Recently in Spring 2010 Category

John Galliano is perhaps the hardest working man in fashion. I can't imagine how he manages to accomplish everything he does, time and time again. Every season he makes at least four distinct collections -- and they're not rip-offs of each other -- they can all stand on their own.

His show at Paris Fashion Week was very well received by critics and fashionistas. As you can see in the video above, Galliano juxtaposed a truly modern runway (laser-lit with magical floating bubbles) with his vintage-Hollywood-inspired collection.

"I went around the old houses of Hollywood and imagined how stars like Tallulah Bankhead, Lillian Gish, and Mary Pickford lived," he told Style. By all accounts it was a successful venture.

With the celebration of Fashion Weeks behind us, trends for the coming season paraded the runways from New York to Paris. Some designers made statements beyond their garments. A few opted for hair-raising hairstyles. Creating shapes with braids and up-dos, textures that resembles cotton-candy and some that made you just go huh? Though I'm sure we won't see these hairstyles walk down the streets, they did give us something to look at and talk about.

Some interesting head gear also came down the runways. 'Cone Head' inspired leather hats were at Givenchy while models wore towering head wraps for Junya Watanabe.

Either Paris Fashion Week organizers had 'save the best for last' in mind or designer's calculated move to show their collections nearing the end of the event. In my opinion, it doesn't matter when designers showcase their collection. If their collection is memorable, it will be remembered.

A day before the last full line-up of anticipated collections. Avant-garde designer Alexander McQueen embarked on a journey to where everything started, the ocean. The opening, true to McQueen's poetic retrospective shows was a kaleidoscope of organic strobes of lights. Models shared the stage with two cameras on tracks shooting a 360 degree perspective on every look that was projected on a screen as the backdrop.

Whatever critics may say, I totally appreciate McQueen's vision. He continuously delivers season after season. After seeing his collection, I heard the Mighty Mouse tune, 'here I come to save the day' in my head. McQueen certainly made Paris Fashion Week interesting and live to it's expectations. To be quite frank, I was starting to feel disappointment on one of the most anticipated fashion event of the season. With one day left, Marc Jacobs rolled out his designs for Louis Vuitton (which I'll feature tomorrow), Miu Miu was nothing special and I'm waiting to see what John Galliano has in store. Till then, ciao.

Paris Fashion Week, Dutch design-duo Viktor & Rolf's previous conceptual collections (Spring '09 and Fall '08) landed them two 'Crimes of Fashion' citations respectively. This time around, its all praise! Their Ready-To-Wear Spring 2009 Collection is hot haute couture. The collection is innovative, romantic, opulent, edgy and chic. The tulle cocktail dresses even designed over-the-top are very wearable.

My favorite pieces are the tulle ball gowns that came down the runway on the latter part of the show. I don't know how Viktor & Rolf made these gowns. Perhaps, with a chainsaw. However they did it, the gowns turned out fabulous and amazing. I'm happy to see that Viktor & Rolf decided to do eveningwear which what they are known for. Kudos! And I'm looking forward to their next collection.

New York Fashion Week came and gone but the fashion is still fresh in my mind. With London Fashion Week done and Milan's almost coming to a close, Paris in full swing, by far the best Ready-To-Wear Spring 2010 were shown during New York Fashion Week. And it's a bummer I wasn't able to go.

A new addition to the 'Tent' this time around is world-renowned Custo Barcelona. For the over twelve years, Custo Barcelona has shown two collections per year in New York. The move to the biggest venue NY Fashion Week has to offer is in response to overwhelming demand from national and international media outlets, stylists and buyers. When virtually every designer was downsizing, Custo Barcelona did the opposite.
A risk taken that paid off so fabulously! The collection had it all. Textures, patterns, bold colors, fun, fresh designs. I love the tiered dresses and capes. The men's looks are hip. Surely something I would wear. The collection went above and beyond it's Mediterranean Paradise theme. It had global appeal. Bravo to Custo Dalmau, the creative genius behind Custo Barcelona!

With New York Fashion Week behind us. Key trends for spring flourished on the runways. It was evident that purple was a color to watch for next spring. The rich palette was present in both men and women's collections. Men's suits at Michael Kors and evening gowns at Marchesa, purple was there. I personally like purple. It has a sensual look to it. So, next spring not only we would see purple bloom in flowerbeds it will be in fashion as well.

One of fashion's most successful and well-known design duo Domineco Dolce and Stefano Gabbana showed in Milan a sexy side of the American West for D&G Spring 2010. Faded denim jeans, ruffled skirts, lace blouses, eyelet minis accessorized with leather fanny packs, studded cowboy boots and denim handbags. The collection is like a breath of fresh air, showing some of the season's key trends. Yeehaw!

Aside from the usual collections from fashion's top designer and brands, I always look forward to discovering up and coming designers during fashion weeks. I instantly became a fan of Mary Katrantzou at first glance of her RTW Spring 2010 shown during London Fashion Week. Wavy, multicolored, digitally printed with abstract forms made the dresses seem like they are coming to life. The styling for the collection is modern and sophisticated. And I'm still totally in awe, the prints were created with computer manipulation of colors, patterns and an ink jets!