MFW: 19th September

Versace

Donatella said that this collection "is about a fresh new Versace, one that is contemporary, clean and strong. It is the way women wear Versace now, and in the future," and that she was "feeling confident because it is not complicated, but it is strong". It certainly was different the the usual Versace style, but kept some of the key Versace traits such as the glitzy evening mini dresses covered in Swarovski crystals , the infamous Greek Key motif that has represented the brand since the 80s and the slits, slashes and cut outs on most garments, many of which were the statement black that she usually goes for. 

This collection, which Versace described as "strong, stripped back and playful," was a little bit more colourful than her previous collections incorporating pink hues, sky blue, white, red and multicoloured prints into her collection as well as her uniform black. Similarly, although still including buckles, studs and other rough accents, they appeared in a less aggressive way and in a much lower quantity to what we're used to. The motif which is signature to all her collections is used in a different way to in previous seasons, prefering an over sized, abstract motif on sweaters and dresses and smaller ones lining the waistbands on slouchy trousers and short and long skirts. 

Unlike the body hugging silhouettes she usually opts for, she experimented with a less structured shape whilst keeping the slim and sharp shapes. The collection stayed sexy, as you'd expect from Versace, with mesh inserts, cut outs on almost every garment, bare midriffs (on the many crop tops) and laser cut leather (which contrasted hugely with the pastel palette she chose to include). 

Another difference to her usual collections is the fact that this one predominantly featured separates, whereas she usually presents a collection full of dresses, and even then the dresses she did create had a more playful, girly and youthful 60s feel.

I'm loving the new Versace. 

Etro

I'm not usually into this hippy kind of style, preferring the clean cut and abstract fashion but Etro caught my eye. I feel as if this is a bohemian collection at the peak of all bohemian collections and I couldn't imagine anyone doing it better. Etro's show notes stated that the "Etro woman had risen from the sand and the heat of the desert like an opulent mirage" and that is exactly what I had in mind. I can just see Vanessa Hudgens at Coachella or Burning Man festival sporting head-to-toe Etro - the fringed poncho over the printed floaty chiffon dress with the slouchy fringed suede boots to top the outfit off.

The collection features lots of layers, embroidery and fragile beading in white, red, turquoise and purple on fringed kimono jackets, dream catcher necklaces and floaty dresses. 

(all photos from Vogue.co.uk)

Gee xxx