SP12 Menswear | The Modernists

Balenciaga | Marni | Balenciaga
Spring 12

Clean, crisp color blocking creates a statement for the modern man on the Spring runways.

Resort 12: Christopher Kane

Just in time for the passage of the gay marriage bill in New York, Christopher Kane sends out this rainbow collection for Resort 12. The label has been very influential and for its socially conscious photographic prints of past, and once again, the collection is right on target both fashion-wise and socially.

Spring 12 Men: Prada

Flowers are blooming everywhere at Prada. There's nothing understated or manly about these florals, and the bold approach is refreshing in the menswear world of textures, stripes and plaids.

Spring 12 Men: Burberry

Christopher Bailey's latest collection for Burberry is full of energy and eccentricity, owing in large part to surface applications like the Northern England-inspired geometrics seen above. Other prints, softer but still graphic and happy, rounded out the collection as one of youthful spririt and individualism.

Resort 12: Placed florals

Thakoon Addition, Stella McCartney, Givenchy x 2, background: Pattern People

Bold, bright, hand-drawn, photographic, kaleidoscopic...all kinds of placed florals are appearing on the resort collections, our favorite so far being Givenchy's incandescent iris, and symmetrical floral explosions.

Resort 12: Suno

We love Suno! Not only are their prints totally inspiring, but they also support sustainable development in Kenya by doing most of their production there and helping local artisans. This collection has such a sweet island feel, we just want to get on a plane headed for Bangkok right now!

ASOS Beta Fashion

Nikki Strange | ASOS/Beta Fashion Freedom Project

Jellyfish, light and feathers were just a few of the things to inspire this print collection from UK designer, Nikki Strange. Winner of the Freedom Project, a capsule collection from ASOS/Beta Fashion, Strange's ethereal patterns appear on silk tops and maxi dresses. Pick up a piece here.

Resort 12: Narcisco Rodriguez

More color blocking from Narcisco Rodriguez looks super clean and modern. The colors only add the effect, with electric shades of red and purple popping out of black and white in stripes and large plaids.

Resort 12: DKNY

Is color blocking the next big trend? See previous post about Bottega Venetta's collection! The combination with sequins is brilliant.

Inspiration

photos via idom designs and flickr

Get in the tropical spirit with some inspiration from nature.

Vans made with Vintage Hermès scarves

Vans has created a one-off custom project with tv style personality Robert Verdi, and his personal collection of Hermes vintage scarves. Two iconic brands from totally different spheres meet to produce something interesting and unexpected. Would be great to see something like this for a retail collection.