Here is another image from By Hand, my new favorite book. This piece is by Robyn Love. Her work is homespun and haunting at the same time. This particular piece is a gravestone cozy which she hand knit and embroidered. This piece was created in ‘97, but it’s so fashion right at the moment. It’s perfectly compatible with Dolce and Gabana’s fall 06 collection (shown on right). Check out Robyn’s site for more of her knit pieces.

Tsumori Chisato is almost impossible to track down on the web, but I’ve managed to find some shots of her spring 07 collection. I love her shoe silhouettes, and her amazing use of patterning. The day of the dead theme she pursued for this collection actually works, and I’m craving the last image on the bottom right, a skull lace dress.

I never thought I would find myself saying this…but I actually like the spring 07 Gucci collection. The bold folkloric embroideries are dare I say, cute? And I love the bedazzled 60’s shift dresses, the geometric nature of the beading makes it young and fun.

I never thought I would be into this sort of thing, but I’m finding that there are a lot of uses of Indian-style mirror embellishments happening on the spring 07 runways. I love these examples by Matthew Williamson, Reem Acra, Brian Reyes.

White has been the main color statement for spring, again…but I’m more interested in the primary approach to color that’s starting. I love the strong use of blue shown above. Oscar de la Renta’s (top left) floral print is one of my favorite prints of the season. No matter how blue is used, whether it’s Oscar’s primary blue, Tibi’s cobalt (middle right), or Tracy Reese’s turquoise (bottom right), I love blue in all of its printed forms. Other looks shown here are by Twinkle, Reem Acra, and Three as Four.

Sheer long dresses were a huge message on the catwalks for Spring 07. I love the architectural approach Francisco has done for Calvin Klein with his sheer number (left column, middle). I’m sure that this white dress of Francisco’s is going to be the center of much praise. And of course I love Vera Wang’s pin-tucked bodice gown,(shown in the right column, bottom). Vera Wang has won my award for best collection of the season. She has exercised her always impeccable taste and has fused it with a young, fresh, contemporary look. Other looks shown here are by Bill Blass, Atil Kutoglu, Donna Karan, and Sari Gueron.

Mini Mouse style has never been so strong. I love all these different approach to dots. These are the largest, most dominant dots we have seen in a while. I feel that for the last couple years we have been mostly seeing tiny, barely-there polka dots. This direction with strong dots speaks volumes for the strength and pop of this years spring collections. Above are looks by Betsy Johnson,Milly,Cynthia Rowley,Zac Posen,and Karen Walker.

I’m not sure why being on a TV show gives license for runway disasters like this. This is a bomb of bad taste…yuck.

Sequins are taking over the runways…It’s been a while since sequins have had their place in high fashion. It seems as though the 80’s connotations have passed, and a little (or a lot) of glitz is finally okay. Above are looks by Proenza Schouler, Reem Acra, Matthew Williamson, and Catherine Malandrino

Ummm…I think they misunderstood the assignment. Vena Cava, who as of the other week was one of my favorite lines, no longer has my love. It’s not okay to repeat a print (see left) and anyways I already have that dress on the right (originally by Built by Wendy, the arrow print dress).

Our dear reader Beebers pointed out the other day the presence of rose-like fabric poofs on the Spring 07 runways. It’s a huge trend. I’m not on board with it, but the over abundance of it is a definite message for embellishment. I just can’t get past the fact that it’s so Angela of Project Runway. I’m starting to think that all the RTW designers have been tuning in too much.

I think the Marc Jacobs team has been watching too much Project Runway…

I was browsing James Coviello’s website and realized how delightfully on point he was with his Fall 06 collection. At the Directions print show the other week two key trends were present at almost every booth: #1=brocade wallpaper-esque prints and #2=plaid. No-Print-Prints and No-Skin-Skins were also common requests by the design populi at the Fall Directions show.

I know that we are all soooo over Spring 06 collections, but I just recognized this particular style ref today and had to call it out. One of my dear friends who is in the know, recommended checking out some painters in the late 20’s for inspiration for the coming seasons. I happened upon this coat by Poiret’s evening cape made from Raol Duffy’s velvet fabrics. I’m onto you Carolina Herrera!!!