maticevski disappoints, copies prada

it breaks my heart to say it, but i've figured out why toni maticevski's fw 2010 show the other day didn't sit well with me - because it was a cheap rip-off of prada ss 2009. writes fashionista.com: "This collection was a blatant rip-off of Prada S/S 2009, complete with mustard colored pieces and bra tops shown with pencil skirts. The bra tops were covered in gold sequined appliques and the skirts were the shiniest satin imaginable. The fabric looked cheap and the color garish without Miuccia’s soft treatment."


i couldn't have said it better myself - but i do have to admit i fell deeply in love with a polka dotted floaty chiffon number...pictured below. 

rachel antonoff

rachel antonoff's murder mystery at lafayette house won my best in show award...by a landslide. generally, presentations are an awkward affair - the models stand still and try not to breathe, sneeze or blink while you walk around and inspect the clothes - so you can imagine my relief when i walked into antonoff's murder mystery and saw that some real creative effort had gone into her fall/winter 2010 presentation.

the clothes were nancy drew inspired, and antonoff filled three historic hotel rooms with models in various poses - all of the models were either suspects or victims, and you had to figure out who killed who. it was interesting, adorable, and fun - and the clothes were gorgeous - as were the shoes, especially the t-strap mary jane style flats and the brogues.

see some shots below.

ragandbone amazing

a picture is worth a thousand words.

alex wang's misstep

i don't think i'm alone in critiquing alex wang's latest collection - the king of cashmere tees showed a sports-inspired collection for spring last september, and this time around, his wall street inspired clothes simply didn't translate. some of the dresses were alright - the ones pictured below are ones i somewhat like - but while i'm on board with the velvet trend, i don't like the way wang used it. his blazers featured oddly placed cutouts that would make just about anyone look awkward (if a model can't wear it, a mere mortal definitely can't), and pin striped bra tops just didn't work for me, especially when paired with low slung pants. and i'm sorry, VELVET BOOTS? NO. NEVER. NO.

however, the sunnies were great and it's spectacular to see natalia vodianova on the runway.

rebecca taylor makes my dreams come true

rebecca taylor is a personal favorite of mine - season after season, she shows wearable, feminine clothes with just a hint of edge - and i never tire of her aesthetic. at her show yesterday, i obsessed over the model's dark eyelids and bed-head hair and practically salivated over the leopard print coats and sparkling tights. nevermind that the knits were adorable and and even the feathers looked like they'd work. and the LAYERS. oh, the layers. taylor loves layering, or i should say, whoever styles her shows does - and there's nothing like a bit of layering in autumn. outfit inspiration, meet rebecca taylor.

veni vidi vena (cava)

vena cava stuck to what they do best - small runway shows, a live band (last season, it was fiery furnaces, this season, the like), and slinky silhouettes practically perfect in every way for the downtown girl. high waisted shorts and jumpsuits also showed up, of course.

cushnie et ochs

michelle and carly didn't dress before fashion week - instead, they took a stripping class. the cushnie et ochs designers have a stripper pole in their studio - and it seems the gals are naturals. anywho, the clothes - gorgeous. certainly, the body-con silhouette was present, but this time around, the designers progressed forward, working in separates and larger, boxier silhouettes. leather and chunky knits broke things up, and a fur sleeved cardigan jacket elicited some major fashion orgasms.

also, can we TALK ABOUT THOSE SHOES? too bad none of the models could walk in them.