Ooh La La...Now This Zac Posen, I Like

December 13, 2008

Ooh La La...Now This Zac Posen, I Like

The Pre-Fall 2009 collections have been showing and I don't know where the designers find the time for it all. But we know why they do: to sell more clothes and maintain interest in their brand. And for us, it's more to look at, so no complaints here.

I thought I'd start off with Zac Posen, whose Spring RTW 09 show really wasn't my thing, especially with all the obvious hair extensions and hideous fake-tan make-up with frosted lipstick. I don't know what he was going for but it didn't translate, unless he was aiming for trashy. He made beautiful models look ordinary and used up and the clothes didn't do much for them, either. And then there were his sketches for WWD's fantasy Dress Michelle Obama feature that I poo-pooed. (Is that how you spell the past tense of poo? Am I really talking about this?)

But now praise is due. Posen's Pre-Fall 2009 collection of 22 pieces has a wonderfully French feel, and that gets my heart. Trumpet skirts, fringe, smooth silks and an ultra femine, figure-hugging look that is very forties. I have to mention that I first saw the photos on WWD where I liked the dresses, but was prompted by the less than stellar photos to compare with Style.com - where I LOVED the dresses. A good photo makes all the difference, and WWD's John Aquino (left) somehow didn't get the lighting right, or more plausible - got stuck with unfortunate positioning? The satins were too harsh as were the models' faces, and the poses were all over the place. Style.com's Marcio Madeira (right) captured the richness of the colours and conveyed the softness and elegance of Posen's beautiful clothes. Here's the same dress: