In today’s edition of Monday Morning Photos, we bring you some of our favorite looks from the Pre-Fall 2012 Collections! It is amazing that designers even have the time for Pre-Fall – but these looks certainly do not disappoint. Lots of color, cropped pants, swing coats and more! What were your favorite looks from the Pre-Fall collections? Tell us in the comments below!

3.1 Phillip Lim

Zac Posen

Alexander Wang

Burberry Prorsum

Chanel

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On November 4th, I had the wonderful opportunity of showing my collection at Vancouver Fashion Week. It was a crash course in casting models, doing fittings, selecting hair & makeup and styling. There were a lot of things that the Academy of Art University fashion school covered during my graduate show that I got to experience and learn for myself at Vancouver Fashion Week. Luckily everything ran smoothly with the help of my team who traveled from California and the VFW team, Jamal Abdourahman and Paradise Kafri.

I was in Vancouver for a week preparing for the show and also managed to squeeze in a mini vacation with my team. I spent my first day in Vancouver hunting for shoes and exploring Vancouver.

Most of the shopping day was spent on Robson Street. A street packed with shops, cafes and five Starbucks.

One of my favorite neighborhood is Gastown. The historic neighborhood had such special feel with its Victorian buildings and cobblestone streets contrasted by modern furniture stores and architecture firms.

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Women’s Wear Daily asked a few designers to share their original sketches from the Spring 2012 Collections. It’s truly fascinating to look at the sketch, created months before the actual garment, and then see it come to life on the runway. We’re sure that many of you can relate to that feeling!

Gucci – Sketch Courtesy of Gucci, Photo Courtesy of David Maestri.

Giorgio Armani – Sketch Courtesy of Giorgio Armani, Photo Courtesy of Giovanni Giannoni.

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Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, posing for Cecil Beaton. She is wearing her cross bracelet, as well as a necklace by the avant-garde French jeweler Suzanne Belperron and other items. Photo Courtesy of the Cecil Beaton Collection

Wednesday evening, the School of Fashion and the School of Fine Art Sculpture hosted a presentation by the American Society of Jewelry Historians on the Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor. Carol Elkins, a Senior Vice President of Sotheby’s Jewelry Department, presented the stunning collection of jewelry, detailing the (somewhat scandalous) love affair of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Wallis E. Simpson (the Duchess) met the Duke of Windsor, then Prince Edward, when she was still married to her second husband, Ernest Simpson. The Duke quickly fell for the heiress, whom he often saw at social events, and they began a love affair. He showered her with gifts of the most exquisite jewelry, a habit that would last throughout their courtship and marriage, each inscribed with a personal message of his love. When the Duke’s father, King George V died, he ascended the throne as King Edward VIII. He continued to keep company with Wallis, causing outrage among the royal family and the public. Even more scandalous was his intent to marry her. The royal family and the government simply would not allow the King to marry the twice-divorced Wallis, and rather than lose the woman he loved, King Edward VIII abdicated the throne. He was given the title Duke of Windsor, and Wallis became the Duchess, though was not given the title of Royal Highness.

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Peter Loc Tan Nguyen, May 2011 B.F.A. Fashion Design and Knitwear alumni, will be showing his senior collection as part of Vancouver Fashion Week. Peter is currently studying abroad at Studio Berçot in Paris, but is making a special trip back to North America for VFW.

When designing his collection, Peter found inspiration in blurring the lines between femininity and masculinity, adapting men’s tailoring concepts to women’s wear. The mixture of hard angles, soft curves, and delicate fabrics made for a stunning collection. Peter’s fashion show will be held on Thursday, November 3 at 8:50 PM at Masik Studio in Vancouver.

Good luck Peter – we wish you all the best!

Peter Nguyen’s Senior Collection

For more information and to buy tickets to Vancouver Fashion Week, click here.

To read an article on Peter, in The Province’s “Designer of the Day” column, click here.

Vanessa Sergeon and b michael

“I enjoy the sense of freshness the graduating designers offer… it’s all about their creative sincerity… I always look forward to the show which is several days before my own show and one of the moments I actually take a break and pause to focus away from my own canvas.”
- b michael, fashion designer
Visit b michael’s website

Jack Mackenroth, Patrick McDonald, and Keanan Duffty

“The Academy of Art University fashion show is always one of my favorites at Fashion Week because the designers are ultra innovative since they are not restrained by the commerce aspect of fashion. It’s pure walking art. It always reinvigorates why I LOVE fashion and reinforces the belief that there is a promising wave of designers coming up the ranks. Plus I got to sit next to my friends Patrick McDonald and Keanan Duffty–What’s better than that!!”
- Jack Mackenroth, Season 4 of Project Runway
Visit Jack’s Website, Facebook, and Twitter

“The Academy of Art University is always my most anticipated show of the week for this dandy, I love seeing the new talent, it is so inspiring. New ideas just float down the runway in their creations, I just adore it! ”
- The Dandy Patrick McDonald
Visit Patrick’s Facebook

“The Academy of Art University does what no other college dares to do – it shows during New York Fashion week alongside the big names of the industry and truly delivers a dynamic show each season. Quite often the Academy show is more inspiring than many of the established designers. It is always my pleasure to attend the Academy of Art University show to see emerging designers in the making.”
- Keanan Duffty, fashion designer and author of ‘Rebel Rebel: Anti-Style’ by Rizzoli, 2009,
Visit Keanan’s website and blog

Marc Jacobs has done it again – an utterly amazing collection for Louis Vuitton. The Spring 2012 Collection was light as a feather – literally and figuratively – in colors we thought only the Easter Bunny could produce so elegantly. The lightest shades of robin’s egg blue, lemon meringue, and shell pink went round the runway. There were prim day-suits with cropped jackets and skirts of broderie anglaise and lace. Even more stunning were the cotton candy dresses – beautiful creations made of lace, chiffon and feathers. Jacobs, like many designers this season, created voluminous silhouettes with full skirts and rounded shoulders, but in a way that was all his own. And the icing on the cake – the show was closed by none other than Kate Moss.

The Spring Collection from MiuMiu was darker than one would expect for spring, opening with looks in dark charcoal, black, and burgundy. Bralette tops and full skirts paraded down the runway, along with short dresses paired with capes and little capelets. Ms. Prada kept the collection interesting with her use of lace and patchwork prints. Our favorite pieces in the collection were the evening jackets in lace, prints, and soft colors, sweetly tied with a velvet bow.

We might as well just call Elie Saab’s collection “Live from the Red Carpet” Spring 2012. Gown after gorgeous gown bounded down the runway, in hues ranging from white to mustard yellow to emerald. There were Grecian gowns fit for a goddess, beaded numbers that are sure to have the flashbulbs popping, and even a few suits with sheer and lace embellishments, putting a feminine spin on the menswear inspired ensembles. The highlights of the collection, though, were the dresses of lace and chiffon, understated and elegant.

I believe The Cut said it best when they came up with new lyrics for “Under the Sea” to describe the Chanel Spring 2012 show:
“The seaweed is always whiter
in Karl Lagerfeld’s lake.
You dream about going down there
Where bags are all that’s not fake.
Just look at the world around you!
Right there on your cubicle floor.
You should have been at this morning’s Chanel show!”
Mr. Lagerfeld turned the Grand Palais into a white sea-scape, complete with shells, coral and – Florence + the Machine (but not a mermaid! As Karl liked to point out). The nearly all white collection was punctuated with shades of shell-pink and seafoam, and iridescent touches that glistened like the ocean. Traditional Chanel skirt suits were pared down, with little to no embellishment. The dresses were beautiful, with intricate pleats, delicate paillettes, and ruffles that looked like waves. The entire show was an underwater fairytale.

The Spring 2012 Collection, Sarah Burton‘s third for the Alexander McQueen label, was exquisitely feminine without being sweet. The silhouettes showed off the female figure, cinched at the waist letting up just a bit at the hem for movement. And the details were divine – delicate pleating, laser-cut leather, and sculpted ruffles cascading down the runway. The series of gowns that closed the show made it apparent that the dedication to expert technique and construction has not been lost at the house of McQueen, as each piece was truly a work of art.

The Spring 2012 Collection from Dries van Noten was nothing short of amazing. The largely black and white collection was beautifully punctuated with pops of color and botanical prints, as well as a night-scape print based on photographs by James Reeve. The silhouettes were structured and intricate, reminiscent of couture pieces created by Balenciaga in the 1950s including boleros, pleats, peplums and ruffles. Dries also offered a wide range of textures, mostly in black, creating dimension throughout the collection.

Stephano Pilati’s Spring collection for Yves Saint Laurent was a lesson in reinventing the suit. He created separates of all types, from slim trousers, to pencil skirts with a flip at the hem, paired with structured jackets and soft, silky tops. Volume was also a major player, opening the show with a trapeze coat, and shown throughout with exaggerated shoulders that we have seen on many runways this season. The jewel tones were beautiful, and combined with the Moroccan-inspired accessories created the feeling of being on holiday in an Oasis. And of course, there were some standout dresses to round things out, gorgeous flowing numbers perfect for those warm spring nights.

This was the first collection by new creative director April Crichton, and it was classic Sonia Rykiel (which makes sense seeing as Crichton has spent her entire career with the designer). Sonia’s daughter, Nathalie Rykiel, was a guest of honor at the School of Fashion this past May. Seventies-inspired knits and sundresses came down the canary yellow runway, in shades of white, yellow, and sienna. There were drop-waisted pleated skirts paired with leotards and loose day suits – a modern take on 1920s style. Closing the show was a series of dresses in floral prints and sunset colors, completing the beautiful debut collection for the new designer.

Vanessa Bruno was clearly inspired by the Mod styles of the 1960s for her spring collection. Barely there minis came down the runway one after another, paired with knee-high peep-toe boots, offering a modern spin on the beloved footwear of the era. She also showed slim pantsuits topped with jackets and knits, in a palette of white, grey, olive, and clay. Sweet liberty prints and jackets embellished with paillettes gave a young, playful feeling to the collection.

Opening Ceremony founders Humberto Leon and Carol Lim (who were guests of the School of Fashion in 2010) were appointed as the creative directors at Kenzo in order to bring new life to the brand – and that they did. For their debut, the pair created a collection full of [primary] color, mixed in prints and layered over one another to dazzling effect. Silhouettes in the Spring 2012 collection were varied, ranging from ladylike skirt-and-blouse ensembles to slim pants and jackets, and on the more voluminous side – a gorgeous trapeze dress and boiler suit, worn by none other than a brunette Chloë Sevigny as she closed the show.

And we’re not done yet! Check back this week for the final roundup of Paris Fashion Week!

Can you believe that Fashion Month is almost over? Seems like it just flew by! Luckily, we are ending things on a high note with amazing collections coming from Paris.

Isabel Marant’s Spring 2012 collection took all those things you used to wear in highschool but won’t admit to now – jerseys, track pants, tie-dye – and made them oh-so-cool. She mixed prints like nobody’s business: florals, patchwork, snakeskin, you name it. She also created chunky knits that looked majorly comfortable, the perfect transition pieces for spring when there is just a slight chill lingering from winter. Lovely lace also popped up – reminiscent of vintage pieces you might have picked up on holiday to Mexico. The collection hit so many different notes, yet worked in that Parisian way of throwing a million things on that shouldn’t go together – but somehow do.

The Spring 2012 collection from Roland Mouret was ladylike as always, but he sexed things up a bit this season with cut-outs of all shapes and sizes, some even in the form of an eye. Shades of blue stood out in the collection amidst nudes, black, white, and dotted prints. Suits of all sorts could be seen throughout the collection – structured jackets paired with shorts, skirts, and pants. And of course, lots of what Mr. RM does best – beautiful, curve-hugging dresses for the sexy siren in all of us.

Oh how we love Maison Martin Margiela. This Swedish designer created a collection that felt deconstructed – in the best possible way. Seemingly unstructured pieces with exposed zippers and seams came down the runway, but we’re sure that countless hours were spent achieving that just-undone-enough look characteristic of this maison. Margiela was clearly inspired by the column this season, creating dresses, skirts, and pants all with a vertical silhouette. Leather was everywhere as well, adding that hard edge we have come to love from the designer. Another highlight – the oversized outwear that was larger than life!

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