Resort Round-Up

See more resort favorites here and here.

Alexander McQueen {red carpet ready}

Celebrities love McQueen. It's simply a fact at this point. And Sarah Burton keeps giving celebrities more reasons to don McQueen gowns for all their red carpet needs. These four dresses from the Resort 2013 presentation all have such red carpet appeal. I bet the last dress (on the far right) will show up on a celeb within the next week.

Rochas {vintage vacation}

Rochas is usually one of my favorite collections because like myself, designer Marco Zanini seems to be completely in love with the fifties and sixties. The ankle-length pants, the ladylike accessories, the ruffled full skirts in delicate pastels- it all reminds me of bygone American summers.

Moschino {mod squad}

 My love affair with all things retro continues with Moschino, which focused on psychedelic florals, oversized sunglasses, and exaggerated boxy shapes. On the top of my wishlist: that bell-sleeve jacket in dizzying lime.

Carven {the prep school girl}

Carven is another favorite of mine, somewhat because I can actually afford some of their clothes, but this resort presentation made me so happy. Carven is always good for a quirky take on the prep school girl, and this resort season was no exception. Tweed skirt suits, lunchbox-like purses, and intellectual brocade prints all had me smiling. And let's not even get me started on that bright blue beauty of a dress.

Nicole Miller {tropical getaway}

Nicole Miller went for the literal denotation of the word "resort" with her collection. Crop tops, tie dye/ombre, and tropical prints were in full swing. My personal favorite: the navy-to-gold one-shoulder dress. The bodice is fantastically draped, the skirt wonderfully mystical.

 Matthew Williamson {rainbow connection}
 

Matthew Williamson is not for the faint of heart. Williamson has always made a point of focusing on the girl who likes to stand out. He's a huge fan of beads, feathers, and other embellishments, not to mention dazzling brights. For resort, Williamson has enough color to satisfy a rainbow- bold corals, fresh mints, soft lavenders, and cool blues. I'm a big fan of the lace button-downs, perfect go-tos to throw over your swimsuit when resorting in Bora Bora. 

 Marc Jacobs {the bold and the beautiful}

 

 Another designer who isn't afraid of bold creations- Marc Jacobs. To quote Nicole Phelps' review on style.com, "Not for team MJ is Resort a season for play-it-safe clothes." In perhaps the most whimsical show of the season, Jacobs looked to the clown for inspiration and went from there. Part of Jacobs' genius is that some outfits are so editorial-ready, while others are perfect red carpet looks (Hilary Swank has already sported a black-and-white version of the pink-and-red dress on the far right), and others still are wonderful retail pieces (see the brown short suit that I absolutely love). There's something in here for everyone. As usual, Jacobs mixes vintage looks (the mix-and-match prints and ankle-length skirts) with refreshingly modern outfits (see here). 

P.S. Elle Fanning better wear this dress soon or else. It was practically made for her!

 (images from style.com)

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cool as mint

Chanel; Diane von Furstenberg; Matthew Williamson; Valentino; Oscar de la Renta

It looks like the deep emeralds of fall are going to transition into soft pastel mints come resort season. Every designer from Matthew Williamson to Oscar de la Renta is showcasing this cool color in their Resort 2013 presentations.

I personally enjoy how DVF did it best. To avoid looking like a prissy mother of the bride, go for baggy sweaters, tailored shorts, or sleek sandals when picking out minty-fresh items.

Will you be sporting mint this winter?

(images from style.com)

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Tourist Attraction

Nina Ricci Resort 2013 via style.com

It is rather entertaining to see a brand so serious and poised take a stab at some tourist staples at the Nina Ricci Resort 2013 presentation. For the voyager who likes to explore but also knows how to dress, Peter Copping turned three well-known tourist ensembles into pret-a-porter gold: the tireless traveler with her sweatshirt tied around the waist (a cashmere sweatshirt over red-hot lace, no less); the hotel bath robe spa visitor, her robe haphazardly knotted to reveal her matching tunic; the easygoing beach cover-up, perfect for going straight to dinner from tanning all day.

Nice to see designers getting into the actual resort groove, even though I like it when resort collections branch beyond literal resort wear. Will you be donning Nina Ricci hotel robes any time soon?

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cruisin'

What I hate about Resort collections is that the clothing for once actually fits the weather outside -warm, sunny, tropical prints and fabulous swimsuits- so it is tres difficult to realize that the clothes won't hit the shelves for another six months. Regardless, I found myself in love with several collections. What I enjoy is that many designers are going away from a strictly vacation-centered resort presentation and focusing on the overall time of resort wear -November/December is a busy time, and many women are bouncing between end-of-the-year business meetings, family gatherings, and festive parties.

Designers like Derek Lam and Reed Krakoff, known for their downtown-easy looks, stayed within their niches for resort by focusing on urban staples. 10 Crosby Derek Lam, a diffusion line, featured patchwork plaid and cool, Brooklyn-ready Saturday night ensembles, while Lam's signature line dealt with a sort of "urban explorer" style. Krakoff adorned his boxy dresses with neon oranges and blues and glitzy embellishments, making each look worthy of a gallery opening. 

10 Crosby Derek Lam

Derek Lam

Reed Krakoff

Others, like Thankoon and Gucci, took softer approaches to their resort presentations this year, opting for pastel hues and feminine touches. Both used pinks and baby blues, but Thankoon's bold silhouettes and Gucci's straight lines all help to give these looks some teeth.

Thankoon

Gucci

Another favorite was House of Holland, whose quirky prints and fun takes on fashion I have grown to admire. Pinks and blues reigned supreme here too, but Holland went for a more playful look. Even a simple white shirt dress is livened up with bright pom-pom trim.

House of Holland

Elsewhere, The Row made editors swoon once again with now-signature straight-leg pants, boxy coats and jackets, and elegant drapery. The modest footwear and fabulous, streamlined bags will sure to be knockouts. A few personal favorites: the embroidered black evening jacket, the fuchsia velvet-covered box bag, and the plastic navy and black skirt. The Olsen Twins sure do know their clothing.  

The Row

 (images from style.com)

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...and all that jazz

There are certain things I can never get enough of in clothing: full skirts, pastels, beading, ruffles, etc. Chanel Cruise 2013 had all these things and more, and I just about died -as in, Rachel Zoe 'die'- after seeing images of the show online.

First of all, Versailles. Karl has recreated the gardens of Versailles and he's made dresses that connote Marie Antoinette, but a show in the actual gardens of Versailles (the pictures, in front of my favorite fountains!) My God, Karl -and by that I am referring to Karl as my God, because let's face it, he's brilliant.

But to tell you the truth, these girls could have posed in front of a dumpster and I still would have melted with sartorial adoration. I saved pictures of almost every look in the show, so forgive me if I post nearly everything, but honestly, it's Chanel, it's Karl, it's Versailles. Can you ever have enough?

Karl, you've done it again

 (Images from style.com and other sources)

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