What It Seams To Me: A Fashion Blog

If you click on style.com within the next few weeks, you would see an eclectic array of upcoming styles for the 2009 Resort season. Immediately, one would probably assume that this upcoming year is going to be an interesting one, especially with the sudden shift from vagina-suffocating pants to a crotch drop down to mid-thighs for a good breather (an echo of the mid-80s craze, debuted last summer); and that’s not the only area that will be breathing easily during this season.

Brands like Burberry, Phi, and Charles Nolan have taken this approach to allow the clothing to sit and rest on the supporting curves of the body, rather than bind and cinch. In his recent resort line for 2009, Nolan has exaggeratedly widen a variety of articles of clothing–something in which he seems to take pride in–and balance them out with a slightly form fitting separate, like a classic fluffy white top with a pair of wide-legged pants. It is obvious that this recently launched series had to have some inspiration from the early 20th century style of conservative sophistication, patriotic colors, all interpreted with a modern perspective. But perhaps the colors and sense behind this theme of “Americana”, as Laird Borrelli-Persson dubbed this, is not the right cup of tea for the mass majority.

Both Phi and Burberry were hit with the inspiration to seek darker tones, but reserved to work with the flow of a woman’s body without adding new shape to their silhouettes–which was the case for Charles Nolan. Burberry’s collection, designed by Christopher Bailey, is the result of a closet raid through your mother or grandmother’s closet, seeking for vintage gems which has been altered, well accessorized, and worn to shine in the modern light. The inconsistency in texture is what he has succeed in experimenting with; mixing granny cardigans, shiny satin-like material with what looks like mosaic inspired prints, and mesh dresses with microscopic prints. All this is tied with the signature final touch of a thumb-wide belt, overlapping the center of the curve between your chest and hips.

What I love about this collection in particular is its allowance for a lovely lady to navigate with ease and comfort, and that it’s an inspiration for young girls with tight wallets to take on the alternative to rummage through their mother’s closet to find the right pieces to assemble a fabulous outfit resembling Burberry’s look.

It’s the variety in preferences which drives the fashion industry to be as diverse and welcoming as possible. If it’s black and white that you want to impress others with, Phi has released a beautiful collection strictly using the tones of these two colors to take on any style and interpret it in the most feminine way possible–faintly toned with neon separates, but used sparingly. Indeed you’d feel as light as a feather in his collection, where he stresses on usage of sheer fabrics and lace, and uniquely tailored for that style you cannot find elsewhere. I am a fan of his “peek-a-boo” dress, which outer layer’s made out of lace towered against each other. A light gray sheer mini-dress lines the inside of it with simplicity, allowing the geometric complexity of the lace stitchings to add some lustful charm, making this dress a must-have in many women’s eyes. Phi’s take on the crotch-drop look is not too radical, and the material of these pants won’t make it seem like it’s restricting your walking pace.

So are we ready for this shift in fashion? Phi and Burberry has supplied the clothes for those that want to take a detour around the crotch-drop, but companies like Philip Lim and Yves-Saint Laurent (rest in peace) have tailored these pants in an intimidating, boxy fashion. The first few to pick this up will be diving head first into unknown depths. I’m still going to hold my pencil jeans near and dear to my heart, and my small figure might be a challenge with the crotch drop pants (I might stick to the shorts). Though I am the one to experiment the waters; perhaps I’ll invest in a pair of these and see for myself. Sally Mower’s take on this intimidating trend sounds like a great approach for any shy beginner, as she mentions in her coverage for Vogue June 2008 issue, “You definitely have to know how to wear them (always a sharp, high heel, I think, except on the beach), and they go well with the new jackets, potentially making a new alternative to a suit.”

Images from: style.com