alexander mcqueen. Winter 2011

JadeTotti Nisan 19, 2021

For those of us fashion heads who described Sarah Burton as a lighter version of McQueen following her SS11 collection earlier this year, we have certainly been reminded of everything the label stood for. The dark and the playful. I love that Burton played with expectations to produce a collection which has captured everything about the label, but given us something new and exciting. Not to mention, has given the F-Journos the finger.

The royal rumour which has so far refused to die which no doubt be fueled by the amount of white wedding gowns which floated down the catwalk. While I don't think somehow that Kate will wear a harness (although I might respect her more if she did) on her 'big day'. (Doesn't the royal wedding put all weddings to shame - big day my arse. It's the mother of all weddings- still don't care though) Although Burton has claimed she is not designing the dress and all that jazz. But still the rumour refuses to die. But the color palette was very quiet. Next to the intense colors of the previous collection (the color on the wings of the butterflies was just beautiful)

Feathers and fur appeared a lot on the catwalks for this season. I do love watching shows with feathers, the movement is incredible. However, it just is not an option for those of us who live in the real world. The amount of feathered pieces that end up in sales in this country because rain just doesn't mix! Anyway! Back to the collection :
There seemed an element of stiffness and iciness to the collection. Which just wasn't there last time. More structure and colder. But then a lot of designers moved away from the flowing and gentle collections they produced for last summer and came back with a colder almost bondage-y inspired pieces. Marc Jacobs for example? He produced THE 70's inspired collection of this summer and then moved on to producing 40's style suited pieces.

The above dress is my fantasy wedding dress. If I was the type to get married. This would be what I would wear.

The high collar effect again. This was one of very few piece with color. The show was nearly all white, grey and black. Which kinda made me wonder why this was slotted in next to all that darkness. Also the bell sleeve featured as well quite a bit, another piece of design which does not fit in quite so well with every day life. OH! To have that lifestyle! The kind of life where a trailing hem does not get stuck in the bus doors, the life where a bell sleeve does not end up covered in wet ink from work and definatly the kind of life where you don't have to worry about feather clumping. (no, not as sexual as it sounds - its when the rain makes the feathers....you know what? nevermind)

There was an element of restraint and bondage though. Evident in harnesses across the chest (although anyone who has been keeping an eye on street trends knows that harnesses have been worn by the street kids for months now) and the tight almost corseted waists. Not to mentioned the laced up boots/leggings.

Although the leather had attempts to soften it. Feathers thrown in amongst the leather did do the trick, but it was brought straight back to the boudoir with the lace up stockings. I'm not sure how well the harnesses are going to take off. I've wanted one for months and Topshop have already sent black/brown ones through stores. I never even saw them touch the tills. Meaning they either sold out online or they just didn't make it. This really was a collection where it was difficult to pick out the trends as they exist in a day to day sense. I like my readers to feel as if they know how to translate high fashion to high street. But there was very little despite the bell sleeves and the high collars which translated to high street. So maybe this is a collection which will live on the halls of Brown Thomas before being bought by amateur Blows in training.