The many weeks of Fall 2016 Fashion Week have begun, and I love the Steven Alan collection just as much as I always do. It’s just what it always is: simple and classic with a tiny bit of an edge, always a little something unexpected. There’s really never anything I don’t like — and I like everything about this one. But what I like best here are the simple ribbed beanies; and this messy, loopy, off-center pony-bun; and most of all, the way the beanie looks on this pony-bun.
Goals.
Just as I was about to give up on Pre-Fall 2016 as being devoid of anything truly jaw-dropping, I found myself paging through the Joseph collection, involuntarily muttering “omigod” under my breath with every click. Truly, for me, it’s beyond words. I love the shapes and the tones and the Sinead O’Connor-ish model. I love the impossibly beautiful coat in look 1 , the sporty looks with the silk blouses, the scale of the pockets on everything, the easy layering, and those utterly perfect boots. This makes me want to wear red on red, and I hate red. And of course I love the knits, including the ones pictured above, but really you should go click through the entire collection. At least once.
These are two of the best outfits I’ve ever seen my life:
I have to tell you, what really stands out about the Pre-Fall 2016 collections is the outerwear. I mean, incredible incredible coats and jackets everywhere you look. I’m particularly taken with this and this and this and the countless gorgeous iterations of the bomber jacket showing up in nearly every collection. But let’s talk about these Elizabeth and James knits! I have a hunch those two photos up top are the same sweater, worn forwards and backwards. I’m guessing the idea is you could actually tie that waist strap as a belt over the flap, but I can understand why whoever styled the shoot left them dangling. Either way, pretty great. Obviously I’m gonna love the slouchy sweater over slinky skirt look below, especially with those super ’80s shoes. And I also like this little boxy sweater with the wedge slipped into the side seams. Check out the full collection for more.
PREVIOUSLY in Pre-Fall 2016: Fresh turtlenecks
Very simple turtleneck sweaters have been hanging on for several seasons now (to my delight) and I’m loving these vaguely Mary Tyler Moore-ish takes from Pre-Fall 2016. Up top is a black short-sleeved jumpsuit from ZAC by Zac Posen (click through to see it in full length) that wouldn’t be nearly as fantastic were it not layered over a thin, high, ribbed turtleneck. Whether that’s sleeveless, short-sleeve or a dickie, we don’t know, but this combo is amazing — especially with those aforementioned combat boots and the giant brooch. And then we have TSE’s tomato red sweater that falls somewhere between a sleeveless turtleneck and a poncho, with a tinge of the early ’70s about it that keeps that mock turtleneck from feeling too ’80s. It’s sort of a slouchier, stockinette cousin to Pam Allen’s Danforth, which I’m reminded I keep meaning to knit.
Resort 2016 is officially the season of fringe and tassels and statement textiles — truly a fiber-lover’s dream season — and Sea is one of the best examples. Over the past few seasons, Sea has become one of my favorites (six months later, I’m still swooning over their Spring 2015 collection) but this Resort 2016 collection is everything. There are no knits to speak of, but there’s that amazing cable-y, braid-y textile used for the fringed top up top (as well as a kimono jacket), and another version of the same top in another stunning textile. There’s all the gorgeousness of that blown-up bandhani/bandana-ish print rendered in bleach on denim on an assortment of pieces, but most of all this dress. And there’s the dreamy long shirtdress with tiers of tassels, shown in ivory and olive. Plus all the denim and lace they’re known for. It’s the sort of collection that makes me want just about every piece in it, but also sets my brain buzzing with inspiration.
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PREVIOUSLY in Resort 2016: Tory Burch’s textiles
Tory Burch’s Resort 2016 collection is a bit of an odd mish-mash of girly florals and Southwest-ish motifs, but the high points are so high. Namely, the kachina doll necklace and shoes, and the two textile-riffic outfits above. It’s hard to imagine that vest with the tassels and fringe not winding up as my Best of the Best for this season, but I’m also crazy for the black-and-ivory pullover with that incredible woven skirt.
One of my personal goals for Slow Fashion October is to sew something from fabric woven by my friend Allison, and this gets my mind racing.
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PREVIOUSLY: Best of Fall 2015
Somehow I trailed off in talking about the most inspiring knits from the Fall 2015 shows without ever posting the Best of the Best! You have to be in full Fall fantasy mode to appreciate it right now, but Rosetta Getty was killin’ me with this collection. The cactus hothouse setting might have had some influence on me, I admit, but the sweaters are just incredible — from the shrunken to the enormous to the layers of enormous. There’s a definite rich hippie vibe to the whole thing — there aren’t many designers who could make me want to wear a knee-grazing granny-square coat — and the recurring long cardigan with scarf-tie front is a thing I should hate. But over that incredible shirtdress? Gimme.
