Erdem Moralioglu

We have a unique opportunity to snag one of Erdem's gorgeous archival prints, thanks to the designer's exclusive capsule collection for MatchesFashion.com. The newly launched, six-piece collaboration is a dressed-down version of Erdem Moralioglu's famous florals.

In revisiting the archives, Moralioglu told Matches: "I looked at [Fall 2009, Spring 2009] and also found a print that was never used from a Spring collection. I reprinted them on fabrics that I hadn't used before, such as stretch cotton for the trousers and cotton poplin for the tops with sweet little white collars. The original garments were cut in silk satin or washed silk crepes."

If his runway collections are usually for the red carpet set, this lineup is for the everyday sophisticate, meant to be mixed and matched with denim and your favorite white button-down. In every outfit you create with them, they'll undoubtedly be the standouts — just click on to shop the limited-edition pieces.

Don't be fooled by the simple shapes in Erdem Moralioglu's Pre-Fall 2013 collection; the pieces in this offering are actually incredibly complex, thanks to the designer's masterful combinations of materials like PVC, leather, lace, and organza.

Moralioglu said he was inspired by the 1965 film Pleasures of the Flesh, which made him think about "mixing things that don't really go together, of things that are a little bit wrong." That manifested in a number of ways: a prim floral-printed silk was cut into a houndstooth pattern and then sewn onto a transparent raincoat, and huge multicolored paillettes that looked like fish scales were layered over another flowery dress. A closer look at a pair of what appeared to be lace trousers revealed that they're actually made from leather pretending to be broderie anglaise, and the yoke of one sweet-looking pink, yellow, and blue dress was made from clear PVC.

By applying new fabrication techniques to classic shapes, Moralioglu freed himself up for a little exploration while ensuring that these clothes will make sense to customers when they hit the selling floor. And what's more exciting than people actually wearing these rather experimental looks?

Photos courtesy of Erdem.

Liberal splashes of neon and wide swaths of python snaked their way into Erdem Moralioglu's Spring 2013 collection, largely replacing the deep blues and somber purples this designer has used in his past few outings.

The resulting lineup of dresses might have been a bit loud if anyone else had designed them, but these were pretty verging on confectionery and unabashedly feminine — as Moralioglu's designs usually are. Plenty of lace helped ground the wild new elements in that feeling: A long-sleeved shirt made from a light blue version of the material was paired with a yellow box pleated skirt that revealed panels of snakeskin as the models came down the runway. Neon orange and pink embroidery showed up as accents on garments of all types, and the sheer shoulder of one yellow dress was dotted with baguette-shaped neon yellow plastic accents.

Speaking of sheers, Moralioglu may have mastered their use in a transparent shift dress embroidered with pink stones that covered up a baby blue bralette top and hot pants, or as a horizontal panel on a full-skirted cocktail dress that exposed the lining beneath.

Alexa Chung dubbed it "eyeball heaven" — she was right. If we were summing up Erdem's Spring so succinctly, we too would call it just that, heavenly — but we'll elaborate. It's not just pretty: this season, Erdem's ladylike sheaths and lace get a touch of the exotic and the contemporary. The soft blues and yellows on slim pencil skirts and dresses are spliced with cutouts and snakeskin paneling that's not exactly edgy, but certainly a contemporary shift. To that point, the collection's florals are also taken further this season, dotted with high-impact brights and made all the more compelling in 3D floral appliques. Designer Erdem Moralioglu's girl is hardly a one-note wonder either, as he takes on trousers and tops and a few coats and jackets finished in the same wash of gorgeous prints, albeit with a touch of sportier sensibility with zip-ups and in more relaxed silhouettes. At its core, it's still what we've come to know and love from Erdem — a lineup of dresses, each more lovely than the next — but the unexpected textural play and contemporary color highlights give us something entirely new to love too.

• Trends: Cutouts, lace, snakeskin, floral appliqués, sheer.
• Colors: Powder blues and soft yellows, black and white, a pop of bright pink and orange.
• Key Piece: We were taken with the lovely iterations on lace and snakeskin.
• Accessories: Metallic and printed T-strap platforms; sporty, clear shades; sparkling statement necklaces at the collar.
• Who Should Wear It: The feminine style set — Michelle Williams, Miranda Kerr, and Diane Kruger.

For Resort 2013, Erdem Moralioglu kept the focus on his house's signature prints and ladylike silhouettes, offering up '60s-inspired shift dresses, full-cut skirts, and prim blouses in a blue-toned palette of floral and lace. For texture — and a bit of the transitional feeling so essential to the season — there were slim cable-knit sweaters and frayed-edge tweeds, plus one very welcome new addition: swimwear.

>> For Pre-Fall 2012, Erdem Moralioglu infused his signature prim-and-proper silhouettes with an eye-popping mix of tangerine, citron, deep blue, and blood orange — just the thing for the girl who likes her sweater sets with a side of boldness. Prints and lace — two more Erdem classics — were used strategically and to great effect: fiery florals sprinkled the hem of a full-pleated skirt or the bodice of a slim-lined shift, and dainty lace added graphic intrigue in the form of applique on trenches and sweaters.

Delicate lace and feminine florals came together for a beautiful, ladylike show from Erdem for Spring 2012. We already know Erdem is high on Kate Middleton's radar after she wore Erdem several times on her North American tour this Summer, and for good reason. The brand manages to feel feminine and polished without an ounce of stuffiness.

• Trends: ladylike, florals, lace.
• Colors: shades of blue, yellow, and violet.
• Key Piece: a floral trench, the floral dress with lace detailing.
• Accessories: ankle-strap heels, delicate little car gloves.
• Who Would Wear It: Feminine, polished girls — Keira Knightley, Diane Kruger, Kate Middleton, and Sarah Jessica Parker would look great in this collection.

>> Erdem turned to the leading ladies of Hitchcock and the late actress Romy Schneider for a Resort 2012 collection with a vaguely 1950s sensibility.  Refined, yes, but the devil is in the details. Lady-like silhouettes — collarless jackets, sheath dresses, capri pants —  get a bit cheeky in a palette of contrasting colors and vivid floral prints. A textural mix of fabrics play wildly against each other, while nipped waists and high collars reign everything in. Shot in London by Boo George, the lookbook features model Guinevere Van Seenus.