When the legends die

I am still in a bit of shock that Alexander McQueen died. It seems as if all the real fashion legends are croaking, but at least they're leaving us with an inundation of young talent. Don't get me wrong this isn't a bad thing; the music world is paralleling the fashion world in this sense. What used to be the ten designers that ruled the world has turned into a broader array of a new generation who will succeed in their own little way.

Nevertheless, it's always hard to see someone as revolutionary as Alexander McQueen go. Everything he touched transformed from ordinary into fantastical. Yet, I have faith that his vision will live on in the clothes of this new brood of designers. Long live McQueen!

After seeing these shoes how can you not mourn his death?

Collegiate couture

I decided to take some artistic liberties and chose what college each pre-fall 2010 collection corresponds to...it's completely unrealistic that any college student would be wearing designer duds, but imagining is so much fun.
The feminine and elegant clothes of this collection could easily make its way into any fashion-savvy Vassar student's closet. The red lips are another nice touch that speak to Vassar's dramatic flair.

A paisely jumpsuit? Yes, it would indeed be Berkley student who would line up to purchase this look...if only it was made of recycled hemp instead of silk.

These clothes definitely have an urban minimalist vibe, and if you're student at U of Chicago the chances of having extraneous time to conjure up elaborate outfits would be limited, so Devi Kroell would be an excellent option.

The Chloé pre-fall just screams East coast preppiness, and what better a school than Princeton to find that nerdy sophistication? The jackets should have a minimum IQ requirement to avoid posers.

Young, fresh, and so L.A. ADAM's pre-fall collection could seamlessly weave its way into the Calfornian Occidental culture; too bad the bags are too small to hold textbooks.

The sunglasses, the too-cool-for-school looks, the bold fabric and color choices clearly belong in the city, New York City to be exact.
My absolute favorite pre-fall collection: Proenza Schouler can do no wrong. The clothes are trendy, yet preppy and translate perfectly for the senatorial internships of Georgetown students.

Is Karl referencing American history?

While the clothes themselves did not impress me that much, the entire Chanel 2009-10 resort show did. After watching the first minute of the show on youtube I was a bit puzzled to say the least. The show begins with a model in a black cape and baroque-style cap running onto the runway. This image struck me as an odd homage to Paul Revere and the way that he warned people that something grand and big and massive was coming. Was the model giving the audience the same warning? So I don't exactly have Karl on speed dial to ask him about his intentions for the opening of his show, but I do think he might have just made some American history buffs like me very happy indeed.

Jack and Lazaro do Resort.

And they do it well. Previously, I thought that the Proenza Schouler aesthetic wouldn't translate well for a resort collection, yet obviously I have been proven very very wrong (see evidence below). I have posted my six favorite looks from the collection and the place I would want to wear each one. It's like a combination of Vogue and Travel + Leisure!

Very surfer, a little dark: Tofino, Canada

Beachy and fabric with Asian vibes: Koh Phi Phi Island, Thailand

The villa is all that is missing: Lake Como, Italy

Urban and modern: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Sophisticated with some Spanish subtleties: Barcelona, Spain

Hip, young, too cool to be bothered: Mailbu, California

Most definitely Scandinavian: Inari Lake, Finland