DreaminLace

Fashion’s rising designer Marco de Vincenzo certainly is earning his stripes quickly in the world of fashion, and when delving out collections like his Spring/Summer 2014 collection, it’s not too hard to see why. He presented a collection of clean lines, simple silhouettes, and at times a little psychadelic fun at Milan Fashion Week Sunday.

In a unique way, Marco experiments with prints. Aztec and geometric prints are strongly represented, as well as the occasional hoodie. In fact, this collection has a feel to it that might make the modern day hipster quite happy. But no matter what the look, each piece is contemporary and multi-dimensional. At times you think you’re looking at an optical illusion. Other times you feel you’re watching the living embodiment of techno. It’s a strong collection that twists and turns around a blended line of traditional and abstract.

If you’re not yet familiar with the work of Marco de Vincenzo, take a look at this collection to familiarize yourself as I’m sure you’ll be hearing much of his name in the future.

xoxo
Kelly

Home is where the heart is. Or, at least for Dolce and Gabbana‘s power duo Domenico Dolce and Steffano Gabbana. Season after season, ad campaign after ad campaign, Dolce and Gabbana salute their Italian heritage with glamour…and of course, beautiful clothing. But their Spring/Summer 2014 collection, presented Sunday at Milan Fashion Week, is perhaps their biggest collection of Italian Pride to date. This season, monuments and medallions join the signature lace and relaxed tunics…all while maintaining that classic Dolce palette of gold, black, and red. They’re the colors of royalty and suit the brand that’s risen to be true fashion royalty, Dolce and Gabbana.

To review this collection, that is a massive 77 looks, let’s start by knocking out a few standard staples that Dolce and Gabbana always knock out of the park, their interpretation of the LBD (little black dress).

Classic and gorgeous, with killer necklines. No one does a mid-calf black dress quite like Dolce and Gabbana. They’re always a staple in a Dolce collection (or wardrobe), but these are wonderful updates that are just to great to ignore.

Another traditional look of Dolce and Gabbana are the lace-overlay dresses of black bustiers. This year we saw a bit of a change with polka dots. It’s fun to see them take a look they always do so well, and mix it up a bit. These are both classic classic DG and lovely.

Polka dots weren’t the only twist to the signature black lace though. Medallions joined the party in the form of embellishment and accessories. This kicks off the running theme of this collection with vintage coins. They work really well as neck, waist, and hemline decoration but also as belts. I really love the money theme. Who doesn’t love money? 🙂

Emilio Pucci creative director Peter Dundas must be one fun guy, because he sure knows how to bring the fun to the runway. It’s a ‘Get This Party Started’ collection. A disco party collection, full of color and sparkle that would make the 1980s very proud. Take a look at the Milan Fashion Week disco, and I dare you not to love it.

Delicate. Vintage. Feminine. Three words that come to mind, inspired by the delightful Spring/Summer 2014 collection presented on day four of Milan Fashion Week by Roberto Cavalli. It’s a collection that celebrates the 1920s with such artistry and spirit that I’m ready to start start doing the Charleston. There’s also snake skin, but in a soft and gentle way we’ve never seen it before. Gorgeous gorgeous collection that’s has an air of great ease. It’s relaxed glamour that ditches the bright neons of the Just Cavalli show of day two in favor of a much lighter palette. Seriously think I’ve fallen in love.

It’s interesting to see snakeskin done in a way that’s quiet, not loud. Usually snakeskin is done in bold looks, but these are very relaxed. I love the desert-esque pallete of the first range of looks. And then a muted lime green comes in for a splash of color that’s every bit as much fun.

Taking the route of the very well-traveled trend of black and white, Roberto Cavalli somehow veers in the direction of uncharted territory full of intricate beading, spidery necklaces, and soft woven fabrics that at times take on a Native American inspiration.

And just like that, Roberto Cavalli has revealed another collection that’s utterly flawless. I don’t know how they do it, but boy do they do it.

If you like shimmer…I’d definitely check out the full collection because the way these clothes reflect light while in motion is really breathtaking.

xoxo
Kelly

All photos credited to Vogue. 

Versace took the spotlight at Milan Fashion Week Friday to present a collection full of spectacular pieces…with wide variety! Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my! Or zippers, pastels, flowers, and biker-tees…oh…my! It wasn’t a perfect collection, but was full of looks that proved the Versace spirit is still very much alive and well.

So let’s start with my absolutely favorite pieces of the collection, these beautiful bouquets of flowers!

It’s like Donatella crawled around picking up a floral print off the cutting room floor of an Erdem showroom (in a good way). It’s not something I would’ve expected out of Versace this season, but these (to me) are definitely the strongest looks of the collection. They do what Versace does best, and take a romantic look and flip it upside down to have a whole lot of attitude. Bravo! And I love those shoes!

Another look that is very classic Versace are the exposed zippers in these black numbers:

We’ve seen Versace do this before. It worked then and it works now. I really love when Versace goes all rock-girl on us!

I don’t love when they go all rock girl in pastels however…

These are strange. The belly chain works for me in the black exposed zipper looks but is a major flop for me here. In theory I like the idea of pastels with a dark twist but I just don’t think this is the most effective way to do it. And I think they definitely should have paired these dresses with the black platforms you see with the above looks. The shoes and the dresses are way too matchy matchy for my taste.

Versace did get pastels right though in these looks that darken them up without the excess chain-baggage.

These are styled to perfection with the chunky black heals and large buckled, black belts. Where they aimed (and missed) in the pastels with chains, they hit right on the head with these. But, hey it’s a trial and error process sometimes and better to try, fail, try again, and get it right…than to never try at all. (As cheesy as that sounds it is really true!)

Denim also played a large role in this collection in a range of looks that I really did like a lot. I even like the controversial chain in the center look. It works really well in this case.

And last but not least, let’s just gander at these really amazing t-shirts. These gals are ready to jump on the back of a Harley motorcycle and ride into the sunset. The lace detailing on the pants is one of my favorite looks of the whole collection. I wish we saw that done more because it has a really cool effect, like high fashion faux tattoos.

Overall, while the collection did hit a few speed bumps, it was classic good Versace fun. And who doesn’t love that?

Let me know where you weigh in on the great belly-chain debate (I don’t know why I keep calling them belly chains as they adorn many other body parts than the belly). I’m curious to know if you think pastels and chains are a good mix.

All photos credited to Vogue.