There is a flowing fluid movement of femininity blowing through the winds of fashion. A moment of beautiful emotion sweeping us with the art of being female, and into every woman’s wardrobe. Fashion has stood firm, and given us something to look forward to these past few trying years with the sheer bliss of it’s lighthearted art. It is time to brilliantly and effectively begin to add shine.

While fashion might be saying more than basics, it also seems to be heading back to nature. Along with infusions of color, there were definite inspirations of the wildlife in clothes, and accessories with fur, feathers, and fringe. An influx of prints, striped prints, bright prints, and animal prints was all the rage this season. What Sarah Burton did with feathers, and texture to create a whimsical fairy, heroine with tailoring techniques, goddess divine shoes, and accessories sent chills down my creative being and made my head spin.

I love the designers that you know you can count on their ability to stay monogamous to their look. In the sense that when you see one of their pieces, the instant designer recognition is there before the credentials. But when a designer is talented enough to stay true to themselves, and yet bring the element of the unexpected to their collection, what a conquest! And that is what we keep coming back for. Albert Ebaz is one of the latter described designers. He knows what a woman wants, in a way that is structured, yet without any rules. I absolutely loved the neutral hues infused with strong red, bright green, plum, and leather. Chanel definitely had a breathtaking, and elegant tone of wearability. I have always fancied owning a catsuit, and saw some designs that got my creative juices flowing. Always love the work of Stefano Pilati, YSL ,and Thomas Maier, Bottega Veneta. Or maybe it is just their attitude toward fashion with the combination of the real expertise of understanding of luxe. Chloe’s ballet inspired line came timely with the hit movie The Black Swan, and our girlish infatuation of ballerinas. The mix with the texture, and structure satisfied my love of feminine/masculine mix. I definitely have a love affair with heels. I am much more comfortable in them then flats, but Valentino showed the perfectly sexiest flat that I have seen in a while. As for the collection, I always enjoy seeing the epitome of femininity with an allure to the younger women of the world. I enjoy John Galliano the most when he is in his illuminary glory of Twenties inspired creations. As he did this spring. The epitome of this in my mind was best showcased in Grace Coddington’s editorial creation for Vogue September 2007.

I think this image provokes the essence of what is being produced in fashion right now perfectly. We are turning our backs on the doom and gloom of the economy, eschewing boredom, and making room for some fun. “Somewhere over the rainbow”, the lyrics to the song that is now playing on our Pandora station in the background as I begin to type. After reviewing, reveling and adoring the Spring/Summer 2011 couture collections, I’ve come to the conclusion that this is exactly how the world must be feeling. Or at least, it seems to be the way the designers are feeling. I as well am included in this, seeing color combinations from my inspiration board walking the runways, and just yesterday a Burberry add from my latest Vogue, was the exact color hues of my next collection. Wow! Even the designers with neutral preferences showed points of strong color. It seems as though we have gotten the picture of the importance of investment pieces and classic wardrobe essentials, and we are now on to the next subject. Adding a bit of pleasure to the business of dressing. It’s time to put a little spice into the mix of key fundamental wardrobe building, liven it up a bit, and add some flavor. Believe me when I say that no one gets more excited by a classic than myself, or in the beauty of white and pale colors, but mixing it up and taking the effort to ensure that your signature look doesn’t become expected in the wrong sense of the word is a lighthearted fashion achievement. Bravo to Christopher Bailey. I think that he wins the award for taking a company with such a beautiful heritage into the twenty first century, all the while keeping its bones in tack. Almost like finding the fountain of youth. Refreshing.

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Alexis C.

What is it about the exquisite forms flawlessly moving with precision, and grace in such a way that seems so effortless, yet requires a level of skill and dedication beyond most of our comprehensions, and captures our fancy as little girls. Designers artists painters writers and composers, we have all at some point had a moment of intrigue with the image of a dancer clothed in beautiful fabrics, muscles toned to unbelievable strengths, balancing all of their weight on the balls of their toes, whilst moving seamlessly in unison to a composition of music as if they were together one unified being, and were transposed in an ethereal moment in their life. This is when the infatuation has the power to captivate us into the art. The celestial beauty of the entire process of the evolution of a dancer, and the dance captivates me.