V For Versace

So, this one has caught me slightly on the hop. Versace are doing a second line for H&M, and it’s out in like a fortnight. I had no idea, morto! Although unless I have been living under a rock for the past while (that is actually possible, now that I think of it), the blogosphere is decidedly less excited for this one. My feelings about designer/high-street collaborations are still mixed at best, but I am always curious to see what the teams come up with. This cruise collection delivers much of the same as the previous Versace collab…amazing campaign, light on clothes. Well, I mean, maybe I’m just not the target audience….You tell me….

Versace for H&M Cruise 2012

Versace for H&M Cruise 2012

I know it is probably a harsh judgement, and there are things from this collection I would wear – the bikini & some of the menswear is cute. But still…I stand by my previous sentiment that Versace is only good when it is actually expensive – tacky clothes in cheap fabrics is just, well, cheap. Even when Abbey Lee Kershaw models them in a great shoot.

The line is out January 19, from what I have heard. And while I won’t be rushing out to stand in line, I think this shirt is cute. Don’t you think it’s cute?

H&M Cruise 2012

all images via fashionolgie.com

It’s pronounced VersACE

I love Versace. Wait, what?

I am not a Versace Woman, nor would I stop to look at a Versace Woman in the street. But I love the sheer FASHUN of the runway shows and the editorials they put out. The craftsmanship is undeniable, the attention to detail immaculate.

Versace AW11

And who are we kidding, much of what young blogging types and grungy trendy heads are wearing today is, in a trickle down-bubble up inspired way, thanks to Versace. It was the leather and luxe look that Gianni was so amazing at in the early ’90′s. And make no mistake, there are oodles of Versace Women who spend the kind of cash that makes you blush. On Versace, to be clear.

Versace AW11

I have been thinking a lot about the H&M Collection recently. I saw the first preview in Stylist magazine, and I checked it out online a bit too. But as much as I fawn over the main lines, I think I am not that bothered about the H&M collection. For one big reason. Versace is, like, REALLY tacky. That’s why it’s awesome. Even a simple black coat will always have massive hardware or some detail designed to make the world know that the wearer is really really really ridiculously wealthy.

Versace AW11

It’s like the kind of tacky all other tacky aspires to be. The kind of tacky that only works when it is made of the finest of everything, when the studs are expensive and heavy and firmly secured. The kind of tacky that cannot ever be reproduced on the highstreet. Even with Donatella at the helm (and trust me, I have a massive amount of faith in her – she looks like a tiny bullet of awesome).

Versace for H&M 2011

image via fabsugar.com.au

So, what you get is more like a parody of Versace. Don’t get me wrong, I am technically all for diffusion lines and bringing design to the masses. Just not Versace. Keep tacky rich. Although that said, I do quite like this skirt…

Versace for H&M 2011

 image via fabsugar.com.au

I’ll almost definitely regret not getting my hands on that skirt. But I can live with myself, I think. After all, I’m not a Versace Woman, even when it’s on the high street. *Bonus ss12 images below…I love how all the Versace models are basically Donatella fembots! Babes!*

Versace SS12

Versace SS12

 

All that glitters, eh, is the golden globes??

So here’s my take on the Golden Globes style. But first, a confession. I looked through the style.com pics, and out of 78 pics, I recognised about 10 faces. And most of those were men. And I didn’t know most of their names. So, instead of me telling you who wore what, let’s cut to the chase. I’m pretty sure noone gives a crap about the minor celebrities inhabiting the dresses, they just care about the dresses. And by noone, I clearly mean me. I REALLY don’t give a crap about minor tv stars or people in films about vampires (no offense to them I am sure they are great at what they do, I’m just not into it).

So, here are the dresses I liked, that I thought were event appropriate. There was another Marchesa one that I liked but left off the list because it had a flare/frill/pleat thing at the hip (I can’t remember what they are called), and it’s one of my design pet peeves right now. I also excluded a few other dresses that were nice, but either too much (massive train? you’re on tv? REAAALLLLY?), or too plain (it is like the Golden Globes after all*)

Alberta Feretti dress on some bird. She's rocking it tho.

A fairly famous bird (Anne Hathaway??) in Armani Privé. Love it.

Blonde bird in Badgley Mischka. Classic SilverScreen glamour, so event appropriate.

Another blonde bird (is she in Glee?) rocking classic Silver Screen glamour, this time J. Mendel.. Love it.

Marchesa. Love the 20's inspired shape. The neck is unreal. Oh, and another blonde bird with an updo.

Brad & Angie. Looking ridey. Angie's wearing vintage Versace and KILLING it.

Another blonde bird (the brunettes just didn't bring it) in Versace. Looks amazo. Also, Donatella clearly "borrowed" this neckline from Christopher Kane's Versus collection. Just sayin.

*I actually don’t know what the Golden Globes DO, apart from getting famous people in the same room in fancy dresses. Like, who gives the awards? Who cares? What does it mean? Am I just looking for reasons to justify a fancy piss up? Ok, grand.

That’s nice

Let’s be honest, noone really likes NICE. Nice is almost an insult, it’s bland, it’s forgettable. Of all the adjectives in the world you can use to describe something, nice is so passive. It’s the default setting to describe something that does not offend you, but you don’t care enough to search for a better description. Fuuuck that.

When it comes to fashion, “nice” dresses are for people who don’t like clothes. You know them, the “sure why would i spend my money on the fancy one” people. The people who forget/don’t realise that everything is designed, and that everyone reveals an awful lot about their personality by the objects they choose to surround themselves with, no matter what level of design or style it is. Dressing to look invisible is as telling of a personality as dressing to stand out.

And given that fashion, at it’s best, is a visceral and joyous manifestation of art, feast your eyes on these looks from Spring Summer 2011 that are a whole lot more than nice….

 

Akris SS11

Celine SS11

Galliano SS11

Herve Leger SS11

Versace SS11

Valentino SS11

Burberry Prorsum SS11