Style: Spring 2010

With a month’s worth of fashion weeks just behind us (yes that’s right, New York, London, Milan and Paris), if you haven’t kept up daily it may seem a little overwhelming to separate the greats from the goods and the goods from the, well, not so goods. When judging fashion, as with any form of art, there comes a point when objective criticism must merge with a subjective opinion highly influenced by personal style. So although I viewed many great collections for the Spring 2010 season, I have narrowed my choices down to the five that speak most directly to my vision of cutting edge fashion. Enjoy, and remember, just because we can’t afford the clothes doesn’t mean we can’t admire and be inspired. (all photos via Style.com)

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Max Azria

Max Azria SS10 is complexity-masked-as-simplicity at it’s best. Cuts and folds in just the right places create looks that seem effortlessly chic yet not boring, masculine yet feminine, and soft yet structured all in one. This collection also exemplifies spring’s off-pastel color trend.

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Gareth Pugh

Although the brilliance of Gareth Pugh‘s SS10 collection cannot be denied, I found I was almost more excited by the progress of Mr. Pugh himself than the individual pieces. Since his first solo show in Fall 2006, Pugh has been the golden child of structured, avant-garde fashion. For SS10 Pugh played off these elements, adding a softness and romance many, including Pugh himself, may not have been aware he was capable of. I look forward to the future.

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Stella McCartney

Flirty, feminine and fun. Stella McCartney SS10 encompasses what it means to be a woman today. I have to admit, I’m not generally drawn to the work of Miss McCartney, however, the sheer perfection of each look and its place in the collection as whole cannot be overlooked. And with many designers embracing a more subdued color palette, the precise jewel tones make this an even more standout season for Stella McCartney.

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Albino

I of course have to include my favorite new (to me) designer. In only his second season, Albino D’Amato has given us so much of what is right for now. 20′s – yes. Safari – yes. Enormous sheer pants cinched at the bottom that appear much more chic than they sound – yes, yes, yes. Although Albino’s tinge of…hmm, let’s just say weird may not be for everyone, I found myself truly inspired by the interesting shapes and combinations of Albino’s SS10 collection.

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Alexander McQueen

What can I say but WOW! Alexander McQueen‘s SS10 collection is like a fantasy carriage ride through the earthy, rolling hills and icy caverns of distant, uncharted future lands. McQueen did not give us now, but the future now we can imagine and may fear. “McQueen, according to an internal logic detailed in a press release, was casting an apocalyptic forecast of the future ecological meltdown of the world: Humankind is made up of creatures that evolved from the sea, and we may be heading back to an underwater future as the ice cap dissolves” (Style.com). And those shoes…wow.

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Continue reading for 30 more snapshots of my favorites looks from other designers.

Balmain, Balmain, Bruno Pieters
Bruno Pieters, Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein
Celine, Chloe, Elie Saab
Elie Saab, Fendi, Fendi
Fendi, Giambattista Valli, Givenchy
Givenchy, Givenchy, Givenchy
Kris Van Assche, Marni, Miu Miu
Oscar de la Renta, Peter Som, Prada
Rick Owens, Sonia Rykiel, Tim Hamilton
Valentino, Valentino, Vanessa Bruno

posted by: Tricia Rock