Four Fashion Tales: SS12

3 .1  P H I L I P  L I M
Astounded. Yes, I was by this collection, not purely because each look exuded the wearability factor but because it was executed in a unique way. There were echoes of shows past, present and future with pastel combinations, contrast double bonded and plasticised fabrics but all with underlying lux sportswear tones. Each element had been honed in and shaped to the 3.1 format of laid back urban elegance - a winning combination everytime.

P R A D A
Muiccia's take on 50's felt familiar but fresh, a successful amalgamation of girl versus boy (and his toys.) Girly chalky pastels were framed with lipstick red and jet black as you would find on  a T bird's cadillac convertible. The feminine shilouette was true throughout but a little more risqué  with cropped bandeau pairings. Tough guy whiffs came from the boxy elongated harringtons and flaming wheel motifs but the bottom line was the lady is behind the wheel with additions of rhinestone panels and colour clash lace.

C H A L A Y A N

What we saw in Paris was a show of contradictions, that challenged us to look a little bit deeper and beyond. This was channelled through the folk floral embroidery that was morphed into swirls as well as sheathed in organza, and the merging of dissected structure and softness but also as the designer himself weaved round the crowd posed as a waiter! Unexpected panels appeared like meaningful windows and prints were broken up with blocks of brights, with colours mirrored in the footwear. 

C H A N E L
Each season Karl's creations are an essential in fashion week viewing, despite this and how much I love of the drama of a Chanel show I sometimes get a bit lost during the middle. This season however I was mouth agape and heart thumping more so with each look. Fantasmical colour palette; pastels muddled with murkier deep sea tones and sharpened with the classic Chanel monochrome. Then softened again by a peach kiss with the edge kept with clears and shimmery metallics. It was a dreamy collection of intricate fabrics threaded through the classic tweed but then embellished with a splash of sequins or corners encrusted with scale like discs. Another success in refreshing the parameters of modern femininty.