In comparison to much of his previous work, John Galliano’s output for the Fall 2008 Christian Dior collection looks very subdued, even structured. Instead of the typical out-there-and-screaming fashion statements his garments and styling used to make, the collection is actually full of wearable pieces that could well be the next new fashion trend.

For the Dior Fall 2008 collection, it seemed as if the Sixties were swinging by again, lava lamps and all. Bold, striking patterns and bright, almost-screaming colors were all over the runway. There were eye-catching azures, rouge reds and violets so intense that they’d make Grimace green (or is it purple?) with envy.

Just think back to the fashions of the 60’s and you’ll get a good idea of the general aesthetic and feel of the collection. Looking through all the clothes, you can’t help but get the idea that, were she alive, Jackie O. would’ve had a kick out of wearing Galliano’s designs. But instead of copying Jackie’s taste in fashion, Galliano gave the classic looks a little update, a bit more sexiness and a whole lot of glamour.

However conservative the clothes might seem, the designer’s creativity shines through in other ways. A good example is the makeup and the styling of the models in the show. With big, exaggerated eyes and huge swept back hairdos, many of the models looked like Amy Winehouse all dressed up at a full-swing retro party. It doesn’t seem likely that this’ll be the new fashion in hairstyling or makeup, but it’s a touch that’s so unmistakably Galliano.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Underwhelmed would probably be the first feeling you’d get upon seeing the Fall 2008 collection of Balenciaga. However, once the models start going down the runway, your whole idea about the collection changes. All the details suddenly pop up and the light begins to play with the flow and the sheen of the fabric when you give it a closer look. Only then will you notice some of the Nicolas Ghesquière touches that are likely to become the next new fashion trends.

Save for a few pieces here and there, the color palette of Balenciaga for Fall 2008 was practically monochromatic, safe even. Blacks, whites and grays dominated the garments, with a few brown, silver, gold and brightly colored pieces thrown in. Although some would say that the colors weren’t very interesting, the cuts of the garments and the fabrics used more than make up for it. Balencia handbags just add another charm to the appealing outfit.

Very feminine silhouette – loose at the top and bottom with a cinch waist – are accentuated by the skin-baring slits that reveal as much leg as your typical micro-mini. Sleek, shimmering fabrics gave emphasis to every motion of the model, making for a really eye-catching display.

Most of the outfits gave a retro, almost 50’s era elegance that gets blended in with some modern chic and sexiness once the models start moving. You can attribute it to any one of several things, ranging from the apparently conservative cut of the garments to the well-defined shoulders present in most of them. The end result is a look that’s slightly avant garde, yet one that you know is very wearable nonetheless. One thing’s for sure: this collection isn’t for the faint of heart – or the short of leg.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

If you were following Miuccia Prada’s collection last Spring 2007, you’d be downright shocked by the fashion trends strutting down her runway for Fall 2008. In place of the ultra-short pieces she came up with just over a year ago, she came up with a collection so bedecked in lace it was sure to cause a shortage throughout Italy. The overall result, although less daring, was no less chic for the new style. But then again, you couldn’t expect less from the mighty Miuccia Prada.

Take, for example, the look in the photograph. All in all, it appears very conservative with a palette that sticks to neutrals – that is, beiges and browns. Long-sleeved tops, mock necks and full below-the-knee skirts don’t leave much skin showing, and gives one the initial impression that’s more ‘Grandma’ than ‘Glamorous.’

The devil, they say, is in the details, and this season Prada clothing right there with him. Only upon closer inspection do the intricate lace patterns pop out and give you the full effect of the outfit. An image that would otherwise have been drab and plain is transformed into one that’s delicate and very feminine. For Prada’s Fall 2008 collection, baring your legs isn’t the only way to proclaim your femininity.

Even the bag gets that same look of delicateness with all the details and ruffles hanging off of it. The garments might not be as free and flowing as many would like, but there’s a lot of action in the accessories department that would make up for it.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites