While the clothes had plenty elements of menswear inspiration at Viktor & Rolf's Fall 2013 showing, the hair and makeup definitely played off the feminine details of the collection. The look resulted in a delicate and sweet style that could be easily worn for Spring.
The look: Clean, fresh skin with an enchanting braided updo
Trends: Natural-looking makeup
Who would wear it: Any girl who wants an easy way to wear braids
Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren's theatrical runway antics took a backseat to wearability again for Fall 2013 — but that doesn't mean this collection was much less dramatic than past seasons'.
Working almost exclusively in black and white, the duo created dresses, skirts, and shirts with their signature ruffles and bows. Some of these would have looked sweet if it hadn't been for the stark palette. But instead, these garments had a noticeable edge — especially when paired with the short, almost tutu-like miniskirts that exposed long stretches of the models' legs.
Speaking of legs, the designers embroidered, beaded, and feathered a few garments — most notably a few pairs of trousers — to make them look ripped up. It's the kind of engineered destruction that looks good on and off the runway.
The button-downs were finished with oversize bows — maybe the clearest representative of the boy-meets-girl feel that ran throughout Viktor & Rolf's Fall '13 lineup. Where there were mini hemlines, ruffles, and drop waists, there were sharp double-breasted jackets, vests, and smart loafers to counter all the leg baring and femininity — a perfect marriage of the delightfully girlie and the charming and boyish. From start to finish, the show ran entirely in black and white — save for the red footwear that punctuated a handful of the looks — making textural play crisper and easier to spot, like the furry white details on head-to-toe black suiting or a furry black coat finished with spots of white patches. It's a story of little dichotomies — black and white; sweet and masculine; sharp and soft — that add up to something very pretty without the bells and whistles. Click through for a look at the whole collection.
From the black-and-white Viktor & Rolf Spring '13 checkerboard catwalk, out stepped a plethora of stunning looks, drenched in pleated metallics, stark white contrasts, and shards of mosaic glass. Without a doubt, Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren tapped into every girl's fashion fantasyland, even going so far as to literally include the "looking glass mirror" as the official runway entrance. The collection tied together references to an ethereal Rapunzel-like character and unadulterated Hollywood glamour, then contrasted its soft, dreamy edge with sharp lines, graphic shapes, and a monochromatic palette. It was an even-keeled blend of the ultrafeminine (trousers and blouses with bows nestled in the shoulders and at the waist; semisheer maxi skirts; mirror "embroidery" of roses and bows) vs. the tougher pantsuits and chunky fur-laden outerwear. Pretty enough for the romantics, but never ever deviating from the tried-and-true Viktor & Rolf fashion formula: a sophisticated turn of smart, witty pieces.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, whose Spring 2013 collection was most surprising of all? Could it be Viktor & Rolf? Just maybe. On a fragmented checkerboard runway backed by a glass staircase and giant framed mirror, the duo sent out a collection that was romantic, drapey, and even classically pretty. Grecian gowns in softly pleated panels of black, white, silver, and soft peach were lovely; some came topped with flowing duster coats or fuzzy fur sweaters. There were also loosely tailored trousers adorned with giant bows, silk varsity jackets, and sharp-cut blazers trimmed with strips of embellished metallics. It was all very "fairy-tale princess goes Hollywood" — and also a little disconcertingly out of character. That is, of course, until the cheeky peplum-ruffled moto vests, rose-emblazoned fur maxi skirts, and power-shouldered draped lamé jumpsuits started to appear. Those were pure, unadulterated Viktor & Rolf.
Now that's a statement piece! When it comes to merging fashion and function, Bugaboo always gets it right. Over the past 13 years, the Dutch stroller company has successfully collaborated with the likes of Missoni, Marc Jacobs, and Bas Kosters on pushchairs to create must-have pieces for fashion-focused mamas. Its latest partnership will not only appeal to runway-oriented moms, but to car-loving dads as well.
The Bugaboo My First Car brings Viktor & Rolf's signature style to the newly updated Cameleon3. Taking their favorite car features and adding them to baby's first chariot, the Dutch duo's stroller will feature a mono-color anodized gray chassis, gray sports-car-style fabric, a faux leather canopy with matching faux leather hub caps, rear silver alloy wheels, and a hand-stitched handle bar. Finishing off the streamlined look will be custom-made license plates with cheeky send-offs from the designers.
The two hundred Bugaboo Cameleon3s by Viktor & Rolf won't hit retail stores until September, but starting today, Gilt.com is launching the stroller with a My First Car Viktor & Rolf for Bugaboo package that includes the custom footmuff, a Bugaboo Snack Tray, and the Bugaboo Organizer for $1,775. If you really like the stroller don't delay — Gilt only has 20 strollers available at this preview price! Click through to see an up-close look at the stroller.
Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.
Fairy-tale fashion is officially in: the always-fashionable Ginnifer Goodwin turns heads on the small screen in Once Upon a Time, and there are not one, but two Snow White-themed films coming out this year (Mirror Mirror, starring Julia Roberts, and Snow White and the Huntsman with Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart). We caught the pretty princess bug after seeing the look on the runways at Viktor & Rolf, Louis Vuitton, and Alexander McQueen — and with the Oscars happening this weekend, we've found ourselves thinking, "What would Anne Hathaway do?" Between the frothy chiffon tops, feathered frocks, and sparkling tiaras, it's hard not to get swept away on the fairy-tale train for Spring; whether you're feeling more fairy godmother (in a sweet color palette of whites, pinks, and creams) or evil queen, the season is all about enchantment. Click through the widget below to shop our favorite Cinderella-chic pieces, then get ready to live happily (and stylishly) ever after.
>> Color seeped into beauty looks at Issey Miyake and Viktor & Rolf — in the form of long pink eyelashes at the latter; Gisele Bundchen stuck her tongue out — more than once — backstage at Givenchy; plus, see appearances by Miranda Kerr, Erin Wasson, and Naomi Campbell as you flip through the latest backstage snaps from those shows, John Galliano, and Costume National.
Photos by Greg Kessler
