Resort 2013 - The best of the shoes

Now that we've all oohed and aahed over the magnificent outfits of  Resort 2013, it's time to take a closer peek at the individual working parts that added to the overall appeal of each look.

Said individual working parts of those rocking outfits that are on the roster today: shoes.
From seafoam green mules to leather, mid-calf, duochromatic (<-- not a real word, but roll with me) booties replete with a line of stacked bows running from top to toe tip, there are quite a few beauties in this roundup.
(all photos via nymag.com)

 Alberta Ferretti

(I love how the ankle strap is thick around the front of the foot and then thins out above the heel.)

Bottega Veneta

(This is sexy footwear. Classy for sure, but with an edge.)

Balenciaga

(There is leather. There are bows. There is lilac AND creamsicle. There is a heel. The only thing that's missing is the kitchen sink. And I rather like this look without the kitchen sink.)

 Jenni Kayne

(Normally, I greatly dislike heels without backs - mules, if you will - but these shoes I would solely wear throughout the summer if I had them in my possession. What a color! Seriously though, isn't the word 'mules' such an  unfortunate name for such vibrant footwear?)

Jonathan Saunders

(Nothing is overt on this shoe, and I like that. The blue soles of the heels on the left are just barely visible, as is the nude lower portion of the t-strap, giving the illusion of bare skin.)

Marc by Marc Jacobs

(Bronze elevated loafers. These remind me of something that Louis XIV, aka The Sun King, would wear were he still kicking it today. Photo below for reference.)

Moschino

(Gilt-edged and delicate, peep-toed and ankle-strapped. My kind of shoe.)

 Oscar de la Renta 

(Heels that look slightly akin to armor. If ever an army needed to look glamorous, I'm sure Mr. de la Renta would be the ideal couturier.)

Ports 1961

(Every lady needs a pair of nude heels in her wardrobe. These right here are the ideal pair. Unobtrusive, and with a flattering curve to the arch, these puppies get an A+.)

Richard Nicoll

(Minimalism at its finest. The lack of fabric groping the sides of the feet gives the illusion there is simply a heel and two straps.)

L'Wren Scott

(Utterly charming. Each pair of shoes from this show matched the fabric of the dress that they were styled with. These remind me of can-can dancer heels. I would wear 'em in a hot minute.)

Yigal Azrouel

(Ankle straps are the accessory of the season. In this case, with delicate straps reinforced by a sheath of a heel.)

Resort 2013 - The best of the best (part 2)

Just when you thought the fun was over, here's a second helping of standout pieces from Resort 2013. Just like the earlier post, non-traditional floral prints - with somber dark hues mixing with peppy neons, vastly different floral prints layered together, flower prints with an abstract edge - make an appearance. What I'm excited about, too, is the reversal of what a typically "feminine-" or "masculine-style" garment means; dresses and skirts have severe cuts and straight, unimpeded lines while trousers, suits and blouses have adopted a more fluid feel, with languid draping and embellishments.

Also to be noted is how backdrops in certain shows helped to bolster the mood of those collections.

For instance, Chloe had models standing atop clear plexiglass (though it looked like a puddle of water upon first glance) in an expansive field bookended by a clear, blue sky that imparted a relaxed feel - it is Resort, after all.
Roland Mouret staged various city scenes behind a model that seemed to be always on-the-go, as if to give the idea that the wearer would be a bustling girl-about-town.
Cedric Charlier used utilitarian urban scenes as the backdrop for his collection of elegant black, blue, magenta and yellow pieces.


Zac Posen -  Mr. Posen loves expressive and dramatic poses and facials for his models, and I'm thrilled that supermodel Erin O'Connor took over that role for this collection. This dark teal dress brings the drama (so the diva pose is perfect), and it reminds me of something that a modern-day Scarlett O'Hara would wear. Erin O'Connor playing Scarlett O'Hara. Nice ring to that.

Valentino - Pier Paolo Piccoli and Maria Grazia Chiuri have impressively continued to churn out jawdropping pieces for the Italian line after having taken over the reins from Mr. Valentino after he retired in 2007. The pieces that the design duo created for Resort 2013 are so well-tailored and complementary to the female form that they appear simplistic and minimalistic. However, it is precisely this lack of frills and attention-grabbing frippery that shows how expertly cut each piece is.

 (Beautiful pastel trompe l'oeil flowers.)

 (Burberry who?)

 (Beautiful shirtdress)

 (Never met a cap-sleeve dress I didn't like.)

Tibi - This brand was started by designer Amy Smilovic after she felt the need to utilize her creative urges after having done stints in the advertising industry, notably at Ogilvy & Mather. I respect the fact that Smilovic had had enough of something that wasn't fulfilling her and so moved to follow her dreams. The Tibi line is uh-maze-zing, and it's the love child of Zara and Erin Fetherston. The dresses in the brand's online store run the gamut from printed-and-relaxed styles to neon-and-fitted, which ensures that there is something for everyone (or everything for someone, in my case).

The Resort collection is filled with dichotomous pieces. A good example is the red suit below which imparts a powerful and confident message while the relaxed cut lends a laidback air to the wearer.

(The mix of fabrics like the cotton-meets-satin juxtaposition, plus the mix of colors, as in this bright-meets-somber contrast, brings an unexpected, but lovely twist to this dress.)

Carolina Herrera - Simply put, Carolina Herrera knows what works for her customers and doesn't stray from the pretty, refined elegance that shines through in each piece of every collection she designs. 

 (The most statuesque dress yet of Resort 2013.)

Chloe - The french label is synonymous with relaxed opulence, so Resort is the perfect season to snatch up the brand's offerings. Like an heiress that wears her couture mixed with thrift store finds, paired with who-gives-a-hell bedhead, Chloe effortlessly mixes luxe and casual elements together. 

J. Mendel - One of my favorite lines EVER. I can't even pinpoint a single look that I like more than another. It all just works.

 (I love how the fabric covering the line of buttons looks like a little tie.)

 (This look reminds me of a cap-sleeve, 17th-century-esque corset. Perfect, perfect.)

Matthew Williamson - Spring and summer florals.

 (If I were to acquire a single pair of heels, these seafoam green beauties would more than suffice.)

Derek Lam - Mixing prints and making it work. Changing the "rules" one leather blouse-cow print skirt - giraffe heels look at a time.

The goods from Resort 2013

Even though Resort collections seem like the odd, redheaded stepchildren of fashion seasons amidst the glamorous Couture collections, the bread-and-butter fall/winter and spring/summer collections and the exciting pre-fall collections, it's all the better for the truly great pieces in Resort to stand out amidst other less memorable wares.

Though I cherry pick my way through most shows, choosing a few pieces from each designer that I found to be particularly inspiring or that appealed to my sense of style, I rarely am head-over-heels about most of a single collection. Just like I'm that girl that loves iTunes because I can cherry pick certain songs I like from an artist instead of buying an album with songs that I don't care for. But, metaphors aside, back to Resort. There are lines that make a believer out of me each and every season, as I end up liking every (or almost every) piece that is shown. Such is the case with designers like Erin Fetherston, Naeem Khan, Oscar de la Renta, Monique Lhuillier and Temperley London. These designers are, to me, the heavy hitters that I can always rely on to produce beautiful creations that are both lovely to look at and complementary to the wearer.

Key trends of Resort 2013:

• Allover floral patterns 
• Delicate, ankle strap heels
• Neons
• Pleats

Some of my favorite pieces from the Resort 2013 shows:
(photos c/o style.com)

Erin Fetherston: I cannot recall a single Erin Fetherston show where, after I've browsed the offerings she sent down the runway, I decided I wasn't a fan of that particular season. I've literally loved every single year of shows because she sticks to her design aesthetic - bright, fun, feminine pieces - while still managing to draw from different inspirations each season and tweak her line in unique ways for every new launch.

Oscar de la Renta: The king of opulent elegance, himself. Rich jewel tones amidst allover springy flower prints dominated the show and there was the usual, stunning parade of gorgeous gowns cut from luxurious fabrics that caboosed the other pieces. These are the wares for the aspirational clotheshorse.

Temperley London: Designer Alice Temperley is responsible for creating new offerings for not just one, but two labels (Temperley London and Alice by Temperley) every season, so the fact that every single skirt, dress, shirt, sweater, shoe that came down the runway for her Temperley London line would be scored an A+ goes to show how talented (and hardworking) she is. If I wore Temperley London nonstop for a year straight, I still don't think I would tire of it, such is its appeal to me. Like Erin Fetherston, this label never lets me down. I know what recurring themes to expect from the line's offerings each season (ladylike, polished, light to no embellishments) and thus I'm never disappointed.

Naeem Khan: This design house reminds me of a minimalistic Marchesa; though there are ornate and theatrical details in every piece of this collection, these details are so peripheral so that the garment allows the wearer to be the focus as it provides the perfect, lovely backdrop. Neutrals and bright hues shared space in this Resort 2013 launch, allowing for a mix of subdued and jubilant elegance.

Monique Lhuillier: Lhuillier's collection highlights all that is feminine without resorting to the stereotypical pastels, frills and flowing swaths of fabrics that are commonly instituted in other designers' collections when they are trying to play up femininity. Lhuillier incorporatess pinks, yellows, oranges and greens - all neon - in pieces throughout this collection, and cuts each dress, be it a sheath or a gown, in an almost aggressive style that displays subtle curves. In other words, this collection does put an emphasis on femininity, but it is a bold, confident femininity that celebrates women that aren't shrinking violets. Yes, there are flowing gowns, but in eye-popping hues, and there are floral patterns to be found, albeit in abstract forms that could be described as Monet-meets-Kandinsky.

Bottega Veneta:

Burberry:

 (That jacket. What I would give for that jacket.)

Carlos Miele:

Donna Karan:

(I love this because of the watercolor-esque pale blue tint that seems to fade near the center of the outfit.)

Erdem:

 (I love how the models have swapped prints, creating an interesting mix of two rather different bold florals that somehow still work.)

(Just like with Monique Lhuillier, black makes an unusual, but welcome appearance in these Rorschach-esque flower prints. And how about that lovely lace top on the right?)

Rachel Roy:

 (Lavender trouser pants with a mini cummerbund-ish waist. Yes, please.)

(Yellow dresses are my favorite, and combined with those nude and red ankle strap heels, this is perfection.)

Rachel Zoe:

Preen: 

Ports 1961:

(I'm a fan of the dress, but my attention is drawn to those perfect nude heels. Barely visible straps elongate the legs and add an minimalistic polish to the look.)

St. John:

(Proportion perfection with a flared peplum skirt and fitted pencil skirt. The cinched waist adds the finishing touch.)

Suno:

Thakoon:

 (The marriage of a long sleeve harlequin print dress and a neon striped blazer is a perfect dash of chaos while the nude heels keep the look grounded.)

Yigal Azrouel:

 (Perfect pant length to showcase those gorgeous heels.)

 (Lovely cobalt skirt, and again with the showstopper heels.)

(The flattering racerback cut paired with hourglass-shaped seams make for the perfect summery dress.)