savage beauty

Maybe you haven't heard yet, but the Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute in New York will be opening a new exhibit, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, May 4 showcasing pieces from the McQueen archives in London. The exhibit will feature several creations from each of McQueen’s collections beginning with Nihilism (1994), and ending with his posthumous Angels & Demons (2010).

However, two of fashions biggest names, Samantha Cameron and Anna Wintour, were kind enough to give us a sneak preview at the Ritz in London this morning. Some other fashion darlings in attendance were Stella McCartney (who if you haven't noticed yet, is one of my personal favorites!), who is acting as the co-chair for this year's Costume Institute Ball, and Sarah Burton, the label's new head designer.

Of course, the preview was also an opportunity to start hyping this year's Met Ball. Taking the clue from Cameron, who in her speech said, "I'm sure that the party on the second of May will be a very, very special night."

 Here's the sneak peek:

      

i'm calling it now!

I'm calling it now! Mary Katrantzou will be the next "It" designer.

Strangely beautiful, the spring 2011 collection from Mary Katrantzou, should not be overlooked. In fact, it should be highly praised! Reminiscent of Balenciaga in regard to structure and silhouette and, do i dare say, Alexander Mcqueen's prints from his infamous spring 2010 collection, Katranzou sent an array of breath-taking dresses, skirts, and jackets down the runway.











Katrantzou said, "With this collection, I wanted to put the room on the woman, rather than the woman in the room." And that is what she did, literally. The prints were made from images that she found in old issues of Architectral Digest and World of Interiors. To add another dimension to her collection, Katrantzou incorporated other home-y details, such as wall sconces and door knockers as necklaces, and mini skirts shaped after lampshades dangling with swarovski crystals.


If any one is interested in buying these pieces, they are already up for pre-sale on Seven New York's website, but be prepared to spend a pretty penny. You can also find the link to their page on the left side of this blog. Not to mention, Seven is known for carrying great avant-garde designers, so if that is something you are interested in, I highly recommend you take a look.

Structural comparison with Balenciaga spring 2008:



Patternal comparison with Alexander McQueen fall 2010:

(I suppose more in terms of symmetry than anything else)

Addition to original post: 2.11.12

What'd I tell you guys? Katrantzou has been spotted on celebrity after celebrity, has shown up in countless magazine spreads, and has even been on TV!

 

jeremy laing, who knew?

Since I've gotten home from Paris, I've been waaay more in tune with my fashion sense. I don't know exactly where it came from, or what necessarily influenced it, but being abroad for so long was definitely an eye-opener. In any case, I've been finding some great new designers (to me at least) as a result. One of my favorites of the bunch is Jeremy Laing. He made a name for himself only about 5 years or so ago, but I'm sure he'll be a prominent figure on the runway for quite a while.

Canadian-born Jeremy Laing spent his childhood on an army base in Germany. He learned to sew at age 13 by watching his mother, and has been making clothes ever since.

Jeremy's self-taught method, which combines organic and geometric approaches to pattern making and construction, was honed while studying in Toronto, on exchange at Westminster University in London, and through an apprenticeship with Alexander McQueen. Following his apprenticeship, Jeremy worked freelance developing showpieces for five of McQueen's collections, demonstrating his strength in innovative pattern making, garment construction, and the use of textile to create form.

In his Fall/Winter 2010 collection, Laing put some fantastic coats out there on the runway. The whole collection is quite a treat, in fact, but the outerwear is really something special. Great structure, texture, pattern, and material all around. I wish I could get my hands on these stunners in particular! :

          

Also some throwbacks from his Fall/Winter 2009 collection:

To see all of his collections, check out http://www.jeremylaing.com/