khaleej times Friday, December 24, 2010
fashion
16
Peeking ahead
What is all the ballyhoo about pre-fall collections really all about?
M Stephanie Rivers
y inbox has been overflowing with the new pre-fall collections for F/W 2011, which caused me to wonder: what are pre-fall collections really all about? Well, for those of you who may not be aware, there are a few mini cycles and/or seasons that happen in stores between the bi-yearly fashion calendar. The first, the resort and/ or cruise collections, were originally designed for the rich and famous that flew off to warmer locales in the cooler weather and needed more summery wardrobes or ‘cruise’ clothing for their jaunts. The collections appear in stores around late November, filling the gap between F/W — which appears in stores in September — and S/S, which hit stores early in the month of February. Wisely, the collections have evolved since their original creations, as many people jet set all over the world (not just to warm locales on their winter jaunts) and need more all-purpose clothing, giving more choices that can be folded into one’s F/W wardrobe. The second mini collection cycle is pre-fall, which like the name suggests, are covetable pieces that are fall-inspired but hit stores well before the F/W collections do. Pre-fall bridges the gap between S/S collections and F/W, hitting the stores in mid to late May. Now, I am sure you are thinking, who wants to start thinking about heavier clothing in May when summer is really just getting underway. Of course, we are talking about fashion, the devotees and arbiters of style, so this makes perfect sense. One collection has caught my eye thus far due to its luxurious appeal, simplicity and ability to get me in the stores against normal collection timings. Burberry’s pre-fall is very luxurious with its usage of fur, sleek design lines and sumptuous colour palette. The pre-collection teased with leather bound trench coats, leather car coats, cropped shearling jackets, cosy knits, sculptural raincoats, skinny leg trousers for men and women, deep v-neck sweaters and boxy mouline crew necks. The fabrics ranged from soft leathers, to hand-knits, to corduroy, to textured silk, Alpaca, to merino silk and cashmere. The colour palette segued back and forth between deep cognacs, teal, blue carbon, chestnut, claret, black, ink, honey, fig and camel. My favourite look from the collection is the fur caplet finished double-breasted wool coat with obi-inspired leather belt, paired with over-the-knee stiletto boots.
Wisely, the collections have evolved since their original creations, as many people jet set all over the world — not just to warm locales on their winter jaunts — and need more allpurpose clothing
WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN
A
n audible hush was heard around the fashion world for the second time for another of First Lady Michelle Obama’s groundbreaking fashion choices. The first — which one could term her fashion coming out look — was her inaugural look, a floral embellished one-shoulder floor-length gown from Jason Wu, and last week’s vintage Normal Norell chosen for the White House televised special event, Christmas in Washington. Mrs Obama chose a sleek, one-of-a-kind vintage sleeveless ballerina look black lace overlay dress with a full tea-length tulle skirt and a square neckline, a rare detail on a vintage piece. It is believed that this is the first time in history that a first lady has chosen a vintage piece to wear to a public event, a signal that will bode well for vintage sales for the upcoming holiday season. There have been many ballerina references this season, starting with the Rodarte sisters’ whimsical F/W collection and the looks for the movie Black Swan. Whether or not either of those played a roll in the first lady’s clothing choice is not clear but for the multi-floor vintage shop, New York Vintage, tucked away in New York City’s West Village, it has been a very good thing. Every news outlet from The New York Times to the Washington Post, to the Huffington Post as well as moi has been swarming in on the owner Scheneck to see what else may be in store for the public and Mrs Obama’s fan base. I, like the other outlets, were let in on the fact that Mrs Obama has arranged for additional pieces from the store’s archive to be worn for future occasions, so another audible hush and pause is on the horizon.
WHAT’S IN STORE ITS ‘GAME DAY’
O
ne of the essentials of the F/W 2010 season is the militaryinspired cropped jacket with braided piping and exaggerated cuffs, an elegant cross between a French Legion jacket and a military cadet academy silhouette. The Game Jacket from Alice by Temperley Cruise 2011 is the leader of the fashion pack in this category. With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, the Game Jacket is a great and versatile option for the holiday season. Pair it with black jean leggings and knee-high black leather stiletto boots for an edgy appeal; go for effortless élan by wearing it over a gold-hued mini dress with platform black pumps; or for a cool chic by pairing it with a white silk T-shirt and a tiered feather skirt with platform black patent leather Mary Janes. Game Day available at Temperley London, Dubai Mall, Fashion Avenue. — Stephanie Rivers