Eight years ago Marc Jacobs teamed up with designer Stephen Sprouse for the French house of Vuitton - in an effort to bring a new customer to the label using Sprouse’s crazy original design aesthetic. I kind of think of Stephen Sprouse as somebody like Banksy, more of an artist than fashion designer - there was a lot more going on in his design than what you typically see on the runway. He was well known in the 80’s for bringing street style to the runway, more deliberate than say Prada and messenger bags - it was credible and very literal. That was the big appeal for Jacobs - to have the typical monograms defaced in a way that made them more beautiful, like graffiti is to a wall. Sadly, Sprouse passed in 2004, and so Jacobs created a tribute to his old friend and collaborator by splashing the classic LV bags with neon pink, yellow, & green scribbled letters and pop art roses. I can’t imagine the way Sprouse probably saw everyday things - I look at a graffiti wall and love on it (huge fan of grafitti), but to translate it into wearable art is a talent that’s so raw and has such a surreal appeal, you can’t help but fall right into the rabbit hole.
If you need a little more Sprouse in your step - check out the tribute party on Style.com
Above photo of Kerry Washington in Louis Vuitton at Paris fashion week last year - is strikingly similar to below shots of Leanne Marshall from Project Runway’s finale show. The thing is, Louis Vuitton showed the collection this look is from, for Fall 08, meaning it actually was on the runway in February 08. I don’t know exactly when Project Runway taped the last season, but it was definitely on air this Fall - which begs the question, was Leanne just as big of a copy cat as Kenley? For those of us not into the show, Kenley was accused of knocking off a McQueen feather dress in her final presentation, but Leanne was praised and in the end won. I think I may have been the only viewer who liked Kenley, so take this Leanne! Honestly, Michael Kors should be more on top of his game.
Images taken from Getty Images & BravoTv.com
Orange, pink, and the combination of orange and pink are spring’s most exciting and new color palette. It’s refreshing to see this kind of unexpected, neon, funky approach to a season which is so commonly saturated with florals and pastels. There are only so many times I can read about florals for spring being a new and exciting trend - florals are not trends! So - the Louis Vuitton ad for Resort 2008 is the main catalyst for this break, and accordingly Richard Nicoll (above right) and Alexander Wang (above left) followed suit. These colors scream Lily Pulitzer & Tory Burch - that polished casual prep that is usually confined to East Hampton, and while that look is something I covet for trips to the shore, there are other ways to translate bright hues into your everyday routine.
What’s so forward about Alexander Wang is that he’s thinking in terms of separates - so you can combine pieces you already have in your closet to achieve this look, an orange short with a hot pink cardigan, or picking up a new bag or accessories to transition your closet into Spring. The Richard Nicoll look is also so fresh because the look is just not preppy at all, it’s futuristic grecian with modern colorblocking thrown in - and can be translated from runway to sidewalk easily by pairing a fuchsia skinny jean with a flowy, draped tangerine sheath. Color developments are one of my favorite trends year round, because they’re so easy to execute on your own. It’s not specific to fabrication, treatment, or designer - which means you’ll not only be the most on trend girl in your hood, you’ll be the most original.
Forever 21 color splash tank $14.80
Tory Burch patent wallet $94 (orig $195)
J.Crew Crawford sheer blouse $39.99
Top Shop flower earrings $11
Old Navy scarf $12.50
Just spotted the LV ads for Resort 09 - and became obsessed with this bejeweled, bedazzled - very St. Tropez monokini from Vuitton. I still find it foreign that there is a complete season called “resort”, which my middle America raised self had no concept of upon entering FIT - yet was very familiar with 4 years later and after my time at Ralph. Pretty much anything that included lurex, gold hardware, or bling entitled a piece to a spot in the resort delivery. Resort collections are what the biz world calls “loss leaders”, in that they usually make very little money but are important to transition people into Spring. This is for the very small percentage of people who holiday after or during Christmas, and need things like bathing suits in the dead of winter. Life would be pretty sweet if I could be chillin’ on the French coast like a Bergdorf Blonde - but I’ll settle for 70 degree Austin and Hula Hut in February…for now!
View the complete Resort 09 collection on Style.com
