narciso and the new kid

I've figured out what my beef is with pre-fall, and Narciso Rodriguez is the one who has helped me come to this realization.

We all love clothes -- this much is obvious. But one of my favorite aspects of spring and fall fashion weeks is the story. Roll your eyes if you want, but most (good) collections have an idea, even a narrative. There's a direction, a theme... like dark pixies in the forest. Putting your underwear on over your pants. Futuristic floral armor, or even something about the Amish (yes Zac Posen, I'm still making fun of you). Et cetera.

This brings me to my beef with pre-fall -- there's no story!

Case in point: Narciso Rodriguez.


Above: I AM BORED TO TEARS.

Pre-fall, I have concluded, is something to fill the racks at Bergdorf while everyone waits for the interesting, actual-fall pieces. I am against this.

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Considering my newfound aversion to pre-fall collections, I shouldn't comment on any of the other collections -- but I do feel like I should mention former Gucci designer Alessandra Facchinetti's first collection as the new boss lady of Valentino.

Facchinetti succeeded in avoiding both her sex-bomb Gucci girl and the ladylike (stuffy?) Valentino woman, but the collection was neither here nor there. It was chic, sure, but it bothered me a bit that I couldn't see either her past or Valentino's past in it. I can appreciate that she's maybe trying to evolve the brand -- but the collection, though beautiful, was just not very notable.

Above: I do like this cropped, skinny, pleated pant -- but I can guarantee that it will look terrible on anyone who's not a model. Even the thought of being able to use the words "pegged" and "pleated" to describe a pair of pants should strike fear into the hearts of fashionistas everywhere.

Above: Again, I'll give her the "evolving the brand" benefit of the doubt. But my question is: are we evolving the brand towards Helmut Lang?

Above: I don't want you to think I'm picking on you, Alessandra -- this is a gorgeous dress.

What do you guys think of the first collection from the new kid on the block?