Fashion Pause | When Designers Go Astray

Criticism at Dualité is an important part of this blog, as we are allowed to praise designers for their good work, we must also take a step back and really think things through about some of the things presented to us.

Such is the case of the 2010 Spring Summer collections of two of the hottest rookie names in fashion today: Joseph Altuzarra and Alexander Wang. Both extremely talented designers, as I have drooled and dreamed over so many dresses these two designers have produced for this fall.

However, upon anticipating their new collections for next season, I couldn’t help but be surprised at how…unsalable they were. Ok, perhaps not all of them, but I would say a good chunk of it. But let’s analyze what themes they chose and why their collections didn’t really particularly impressed.

Alexander Wang  Spring Summer 2010

Alexander Wang Fall Winter 2009

Wang excels very well with all black garments, and did pretty well for himself when he tried to incorporate colors when he first started. He was very avant-garde, with interesting cuts but didn’t have a particular theme to his collections. But for spring, he went with the unthinkable theme of football. Yes, American football. So there was a play of volume, and patches of leather, and corset-like tops trickling down to the shoes. The lot in white, caramel, and grey knee high socks. The second half of his show consisted of blacks and whites – sheer tops, corset shorts and fluffy furry tops with big shoulders à la football player. He has a couple of form fitting dresses in there that could be worth buying, but not much else. It’s just such a disappointment. I know you need freedom for creativity, but how are you going to sell this to buyers? I pass.

Joseph Altuzarra Spring Summer 2010

This fresh designer shook the magazine world when he introduced his Fall 2009 collection, and absolutely nailed it. Ruched dresses galore with a tailored fit and luxurious materials which all in all gave a very sophisticated look. So I’ve been eager to see what he would pop up next. His sophomore effort has left me confused. All that tailored work seemed to be absent, and has let way for some patchwork of seemingly leftover pieces of fabric. I know it’s the recession and we’re trying to save, but come on. If I was a buyer, the most I’d buy would be a couple of his white blouses, but I’m really not digging the brown suede on white.  It was like night and day, a definite letdown for next season.

Joseph Altuzarra Fall Winter 2009

I guess every designer runs into a rough patch here and there, they can’t always create collections that pleases the mass market. Still, in times of recession, fashion designers should really put their best foot forward, unfortunately that didn’t happen for my favorite newcomers. Oh well, there’s always the Fall season!

Image credits: Style.com, Sarah Webb (cat photo)