A dash of extra
The Cruise 2020 collections feature bold and flamboyant designs for an out-of-this-world fantasy escapade.
CRUISE, Resort or Pre-spring. Call it what you want but the season has one major aim: to escape the ordinary. This is seen in the collections offering standout designs, with the extra flair of a fantasy world.
From Balmain and Michael Kors to Louis Vuitton, Versace, Elie Saab and Carolina Hererra, here’s a look at the trendy, chic, and statement clothes that you should be currently looking at.
Diverse beauty
Balmain’s collection for the season is all about b eing daring. The bold designs incorporate fringes, beading and feathers – of which, the creative director says came to him as inspiration during an adventurous road trip.
“I’ve always had a very inclusive idea of what fashion means,” Olivier Rousteing told Vogue. “Before, men were reluctant to listen to their feminine side. Now, to feel strong, you listen to your feminine side.”
There are elements of chic tailoring to his creations for men and women. Yet, they also exhibit a sense of being over-the-top, from dramatic ponchos and jumpsuits to elaborate knitwear.
Hard yet soft
Punk avenue, uptown polish and downtown edge. Michael Kors is really mixing it up for the current Cruise season. Who say you can’t pair hard and soft aesthetics together?
Some of the highlights include a new take on the trench and pea coat. More than that, prim polka dot pieces are given the “street” treatment with ruffle trims and exaggerated shoulders.
Suits are also a mainstay. The label presented a range of modern versions for ladies, resplendent with glittering Swarovski-crystal pinstripes and accessorised with killer heels.
Modern appeal
It looks like the Louis Vuitton lady will be doing a lot of partying for the holidays. The collection is certainly glitzy, with short dresses and bedazzled tops drawing all eyes.
It is said to delve into the stylistic conversation between Paris and New York. The legendary skyline has been transposed as prints on jackets, while worldfamous
skyscrapers are seen transformed into quirky handbags.
The pinstripes of the Wall Street uniform take on a new form on draped silhouettes and graphic nods to Gotham City evoke the unique place that New York holds in the collective imaginary.
Life’s a rodeo
There is one thing Versace does very well – and that is making a fabulous statement. The label references rodeo queens for Cruise 2020, women with a sexy spirit of adventure and a fearless femininity.
Cowboy boots and baroque print? Why ever not? And only in Versace’s bold world can you spot ladies lounging around wearing pink tights and a neon patterned dress in the dessert.
Other highlights include beautiful leather jackets, as well as tartan coats, jackets, dresses, skirts and also printed T-shirts. Accessories are no less ornate. They include bolo ties and bright gold jewellery.
Fashion freedom
Voluminous skirts and airy dresses define the latest offerings from Elie Saab. These are presented against a backdrop of the sea, symbolic of a free spirit – one that is able to look beyond horizons.
In terms of pushing the boundaries, the label has taken resort looks to the next level. Taffeta balloon sleeves for example, work marvelously in dressing up the ordinary embroidered gown.
Crochet and chain elements find their way into the collection, as well. This is in addition to floral and antique tile motifs, which are inspired by a more vintage or retro aesthetic.
Stylishly sun-kissed
To celebrate the Resort season, Carolina Herrera embarks on a playful and colourful mood of a Latin holiday. Eclectic patterns thus come into play, along with unexpected silhouettes and a pulsating energy.
“Resort just embodies what Herrera should be – sunshine, laughter, dancing, fun,” creative director Wes Gordon told WWD at the showroom presentation, and it seems that he is right.
Inspired by the spirit of alegría de vivir (Spanish for “joy of living”), his collection is a delight to behold. Nevertheless, bright colours and other add-ons, like spectacularly puffy sleeves, bring on the drama.