Consuelo Castiglioni went west for Resort 2013 collection, offering up masculine shirts decorated with golden studs and short bib necklaces that served as updated versions of classic bolo ties. Stylized floral prints and embroidery referenced bandanas, while a diamond-shaped pattern called to mind rattlesnake skin. Castiglioni kept things modern by offering pleated, midlength skirts and multicolored work shirts — just perfect for citified cowgirls.
For his first precollection showing in four years, Ralph Lauren concocted a brightly colored Resort 2013 offering of modern classics designed to lift spirits and inspire optimism. "Because of the mood in Europe, I thought it was time to do something happy and strong," Lauren said — and what could be happier or stronger than a double-breasted suit in hot pink, or the multicolored plaid applied to a dress and skirt? On the off chance that his customers won't respond to, say, the lemon-yellow leather jacket or highlighter-green bootcut leather trousers accented with a tuxedo stripe of fringe, Lauren created an array of dresses, safari jackets, and wide-legged pants in khaki.
Athletic-inspired pieces with a 1970s bend made up Miuccia Prada's Resort 2013 collection. Shown on a high-gloss, starkly lit runway (the same one Prada used for her Men's Spring 2013 collection a few days later), these racing-stripe tanks, wide-bottomed trousers, colorblocked furs, and banded polos would have felt right at home on a luxed-up version of Bjorn Borg's court — right down to the striped sweatbands and square gym bags that finished each look.
The '70s style of David Bowie and the paintings of Gustav Klimt inspired the form-fitting, metallic-patterned Alexander McQueen Resort 2013 collection. After a few seasons of showing little other than intensely detailed dresses and gowns, Sarah Burton said she "wanted to bring everything back to the body." She accomplished that by pairing generously lapeled, torso-hugging blazers with lean, boot-cut trousers and by cinching those menswear-inspired looks with wide belts. Many of the dresses got the same belted treatment but featured fabrics and treatments — like an art deco metallic jacquard or intricate gold embroidery — that helped serve as a feminine response to the collection's more masculine pieces.
We eagerly await designers' Resort offerings all year — a lesson in sophisticated albeit easy dressing. For 2013, collections are awash in both brilliant colors and prints from the likes of Diane von Furstenberg, whose offerings are rife with worldly references. Add to that the ladylike fluidity of Issa's looks, a study in minimalist menswear-inspired wares via Chado Ralph Rucci, and Marchesa's luxe evening gowns, inspired by the designers' childhood memories of English garden parties. There's literally something in this lineup to suit the stylish whims of every girl. The latest is a crop of color-blasted, under-the-sea-inspired separates, luxurious sequined dresses done up with French colonial inspiration, and geometric-infused cocktail sheaths and party dresses. We've pulled from each collection to bring you the highlights — just click through for the best of Resort 2013 thus far.
Diane von Furstenberg and Yvan Mispelaere looked to the skyscrapers of New York, the sunsets of California, and the saturated gardens of the South — in short, all the vast inspiration the US has to offer — for Resort 2013. Titled Zoom, the collection was filled with many of the same easy silhouettes that Mispelaere has excelled at in recent seasons: cape-back jackets, loosely gathered dresses, and softly flowing tuxedo pants. Head-to-toe prints — some geometric and based on the cobblestones near von Furstenberg's Meatpacking studio, others looser and inspired by the Rockabilly playfulness of Memphis — were also a draw; they covered everything from silky tees to pleated skirts.
In a world of endless shows, high-low collaborations, and nonstop Internet news, it can be easy to forgot some of the more beautiful aspects of the fashion industry. In fact, sometimes the things that make fashion so compelling are rarely considered for longer than a few moments at the end of each season's round of shows. That's why it's so lovely — and refreshing — to hear a designer speak as articulately about his design philosophy as Jason Wu does in this behind-the-scenes video created by Swarovski.
Languidly shot in Wu's studio and filled with candid moments — watch for a cameo from stylist Kate Young — the mini film explores the idea of craft and offers all sorts of insight into the making of Wu's bug-inspired Resort 2013 collection. "I always love the idea of storytelling and I think everything around the clothes has to contribute to that," the designer explains. "It's really about weaving the story and having it told through the clothes." We couldn't agree more.
Narciso Rodriguez's crisply cut separates came in a fresh palette of white, black, and nudes — accented by bold ribbons of crimson and pink — for Resort 2013. The designer's said that his main focus was ease, and thus there was a pared-down feeling to these bias-cut jackets, ankle pants, body-skimming camisoles, and strappy dresses. "The idea was to do something that was languid but still quite tailored," the designer explained.
