In tribute to Alexander McQueen, I am going to post a retrospective of past collections, from a SwingFashionista perspective. The best of Alexander McQueen for retro-loving folk. May he rest in peace. To start, my top picks from the Fall 2001 ready-to-wear show. More to come…
I found these pictures on Ecouterre: Eco Designers to Watch and thought they were fun. Unfortunately they didn’t give clothing credits. 
As usual, fun and funky from Betsey Johnson. The Spring 2010 ready-to-wear collection has a 1950s twist, with above-the-knee poodle skirts and plenty of crinolines in girly colors… I can see Jo (card-carrying Betsey Johnson fan) rocking all these numbers:
What a great looking show! The fabrics are gorgeous and I adore the backdrop! Not too sure about the enormous hair, but it certainly frames the clothing.
I want that sweater!
Perhaps not so overtly retro as the last collection I posted up here, but nonetheless, a lot of feminine, vintage touches in a palette of creams, violets and dusky fall colors.
Click here to see my picks from the Spring/Summer 2009 collection, which had more of a 1920s feel…
Categories: On Catwalks
Inspired by Dick Tracy era, Beckham illustrated that the new silhouette was still as much about structure as ever–but featured a slightly looser silhouette and drape. The contrast of light and dark and feminine and masculine were underlying motifs as she softened the shoulders while, for evening, went more daring with raw edges and asymmetric collars.
Rich neutrals set the groundwork for the lineup, peppered with such current colors as sanguine, emerald, graphite and antique gold. “Nerdy chic,” she explained of a series of draped crepe dresses. “That’s where my personal style is at.” Clever details peppered throughout included a classic grosgrain belt partially hidden as a corset to keep the waist solid or cut outs placed delicately under the arms just so.
A Forties-inspired rib jersey/wool twill drape skirt dress elegantly balanced the tension between top and bottom beautifully while a “little cloud dress” hand tacked and cut on a bias was a fine example of Beckham’s relentless pursuit of perfection.
Above: Carolina Herrera
Above: Marc Jacobs tweed trench coat with a fur collar and cuffs
Above: Victoria Beckham
Above: Ruffian
Above: Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B
And here’s an oldie, but a goodie. I just HAD to include it!
The 1940s were the inspiration behind the Carolina Herrera Fall 2008 collection, and no woman was fully dressed without a proper hat back then. The highly sculptural felt numbers were perfectly perched atop the models’ soft waves.
Categories: Clothing, On CatwalksFrom Fashion Wired Daily:
“Tally ho Dior!
Equestrian chic was the big news in Christian Dior’s spring haute couture show Monday afternoon, Jan. 25, in Paris, where the house’s couturier John Galliano looked to find ladies who hunted, rather than lunched.
Specifically, Galliano referenced the late 19th century women who inspired Charles James, the neo-classical American designer whose more extravagant shapes also inspired Monsieur Christian Dior himself when he developed the 1947 New Look show, one of the most influential collections ever made.”
Here are some of my favorites:
[Photos: Catwalking.com/Wireimage]
John Galliano has quite the imagination. His recent show for Paris Fashion Week dawned finger waves, corsets and some breathtaking suits.
Photos from Aqi Quang 2009
Categories: Clothing, On Catwalks
Behind the scenes photos care of Lotus Notes
Categories: In Magazines, On CatwalksA glimpse at the Spring 2008 L.A.M.B. ready-to-wear collection…
From Moschino’s Cheap & Chic line, ready-to-wear collection for Spring 2010. Cute little jumpers and playsuits, ruffles and polka dots, bows and belted waists, high-waisted bikinis, gingham and plenty of striking black & white.
Well, the 2nd Annual Seattle Vintage Fashion Runway Show and Lecture just happened on December 4th as part of the Killer Diller Weekend, and here are some snaps of the gorgeous vintage clothes, circa 1920-1950, that were on display. If you’re a swing dancer, you’ll recognize some familiar faces strutting their stuff on the runway, and some of you may also know the mastermind behind the event, Lorraine O’Neal. Photos are by Jared Luxenberg. Click on the photo to see it larger. Enjoy!
Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2010 collection, shown at Milan Fashion Week. A lot in the parade didn’t interest me, but here are a few picks with retro details that I like. Plenty of vintage lingerie as outerwear, like so many of the shows that season.
These were snapped back in 2008 when she was in Rome promoting Easy Virtue. The suit is, of course, YSL.
Categories: Celebrities, On Catwalks
Here’s another glamorous lady, Rita Hayworth. You’ve probably (hopefully!) seen her in Cover Girl (dancing with Gene Kelly), and Gilda (the film that made her one of the most lasting sex symbols of the 1940s). She was named number 19 in The American Film Institutes 50 Greatest Screen Legends. Glamorous from birth, her parents were Eduardo Cansino, a Spanish flamenco dancer, and Volga Hayworth, a Ziegfeld girl. She was born Margarita Carmen Cansino, in Brooklyn, New York City. Amongst her five husbands were Orson Welles, Argentine actor/singer Dick Haymes and Prince Aly Khan (yes, Rita, not Grace Kelly, was the first movie star to become a princess).
Known for her luscious red locks (and damn did she have good hair!), she did go blonde for The Lady of Shanghai, although critics claimed that was why the film was a box office flop. I think she looks great!! Anyway, in the early 40s she was photographed pin-up style, including the infamous shot of her in a negligee perched on her bed in LIFE Magazine, so when the USA joined the war in 1941, she was admired by thousands of servicemen and became one of the top pin-up girls of the war (along with Betty Grable and that saucy peekaboo pose of hers). A few interesting Wiki facts:
Click on the images below to see Rita in all her full-size glory…
Photo: Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week
Andres Sarda debuted its Spring 2010 collection, consisting mainly of swimwear, at Madrid Fashion Week back in September.
See the rest of the collection here.
Categories: On CatwalksL’Wren Scott is one of my favorite labels. Lots of figure-hugging pencil skirts, autumn color palettes and vintage details. I also feel like this label is a little more down-to-earth. I don’t just lust after all these dresses, I really would wear them, and these are looks I could realistically create, unlike the looks that some fashion houses put on the catwalk. Here’s my top picks of the last three years, in my opinion getting better and better with each season…
Fall 2008:
Spring 2008:
Fall 2009:
Spring 2009:
Spring 2010:
Red lipstick, side-split hair falling in long shiny waves (oh so Lauren Bacall), trench coats, platform heels, ruffled skirts, cinched waists, lacy lingerie details and flimsy feminine fabrics… love it! God bless John Galliano…
