Until recently, the “cruise collections” were still seen as fashion appetizers within the greater fashion calendar. Well, things have changed greatly in the past few years, and people today are dressing more overtly according to their lifestyles than to the dictates of the seasonal calendar.
Chanel – Pre-Fall 2013
Chanel – Pre-Fall 2013
Chanel – Pre-Fall 2013
Enter “Pre-Fall.” In the past few fashion cycles, the Pre-Fall collections, just like the Pre-Spring ones, are becoming full-blown lineups rivaling the official ones. None other than Chanel can bring a seemingly minor collection and deliver what was likely the fashion highlight of December 2012.
Chanel – Pre-Fall 2013
Chanel’s Paris-Edinbourg Métiers d’Art Pre-Fall 2013 collection is redefining the Cruise Collection concept and blatantly blurring prêt-à-porter and couture. This collection will undoubtedly influence the upcoming Fall 2012-Winter 2013 collections in New York (we expect to see references at Ralph Lauren), as well as the European calendar habitués, and will surely trickle down to Street Styles.
Chanel – Pre-Fall 2013
For Paris-Edinbourg Métiers d’Art, Karl Lagerfeld took around 400 revelers to Linlithgow Palace, in Scotland, and delivered a masterpiece of contemporary history drenched in Scottish references and regalia, while masterfully maintaining its pure Chanel identity down to drop pearls.
Chanel – Pre-Fall 2013
Scotland and its Tartans
Chanel – Pre-Fall 2013
Chanel – Pre-Fall 2013
From billowy sleeves and puffed shoulders to overlapping tartans to accessory references like ghillie and sporran getting the Chanel redo, the Scottomania collection looked at Tudor and Elizabethan portraiture and adornment to deliver a brilliant and influential fashion masterpiece.
Chanel – Pre-Fall 2013
Mary Nevill, Lady Dacre and Gregory Fiennes, 10th Baron, by Hans Eworth, 1559. National Portrait Gallery, London
Chanel – Pre-Fall 2013
Chanel – Pre-Fall 2013
Unknown woman, formerly known as Mary, Queen of Scots by Unknown artist, oil on panel, transferred to canvas, circa 1570. National Portrait Gallery, London
Chanel – Pre-Fall 2013
Which brings us to a paralleling influential fashion movement, though this one takes the formula to the Streets, or more appropriately brings “Urban Style” to the upcoming London Fashion Weekpodiums.
Urban Fashion Week London presented by Billy D. Foster, aka, Billy Bad Ass
If Urban Fashion Week founder Billy D. Foster, known as Billy Bad Ass, has his way, February 2013 will have Urban Style all over London Fashion Week. Will highbrow designers cipher some of this subversive influence in their next collection? Of course they will… in fashion nothing is sacred!