Dries Van Noten Menswear SS/08

Dries Van Noten, of the "Antwerp 6," took his menswear show from Paris to Milan for SS/08 presenting a collection integrating traditionally feminine fabrics such as organza and mouselline in masculine shapes within an extensive color scope of lilac, fluoro-orange and -yellow to fuchsias, warm red and imperial purple.

Fencing and scuba diving trousers, satin judo shorts along with cache coeur shirts, nylon windbreakers were highlight pieces alongside the forte menswear items like double breasted jackets and trench coats.

The range of the collection comes with intention to make "colors believable for guys" by integrating them in forms "as masculine as possible," says Van Noten. The deep and neon color palette meshes with several "non-colors" throughout the line giving different looks different pops.

In addition to color, the spectrum of new "technical materials" like plastified polystics, mixtures of silk with nylon, and acetates with the Van Noten traditionalist twist brought unique variance in the sheer, see-through shirts and outerwear pieces. Altogether, the elements of the DVN SS/08 collection were able to make an bright, innovative and memorable collection, imprinting much of menswear's spring and summer trends.

Nylon Windcheater 235

2-Tone Boxing Shorts 205

Polyamide jacket 215

Sheer patchwork shirt 205

Jogging pant  €235

@ brownfashion.com

Truth: The Royal Arts Academy alumni the "Antwerp 6" consist of Dries Van Noten, Martin Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Von Beirendonck, Dirk Van Saene and Dirk Bikkembergs.

Truth: Dries Van Noten does no advertising for menswear or womenswear.

Truth: Dries Van Noten employs a private chef to not only feed his retail buyers healthy, delicious meals but bake them cakes on their birthdays.

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Feeling more like spring every day...

From Miu Miu in Milan to Osklen in Brazil, this spring skirts have new eye-catching ways. Frills, folds, cut-outs and technicolors. Sheer and see-through fabrics also found themselves in Marc Jacobs' NY show and and in Daniel Scutt's collection in London. Trends are easy to spot on the runway and finding them just also got a bit easier too.

ASOS' premium line carries a white and light, flowerprint cutwork dress for $97.52.
Find this citron high-waisted 3.1 Philip Lim mini-skirt with exposed zipper at Net-A-Porter for $320.



From Marc Jacobs' SS/08 collection, an assymetric purple, yellow and lilac chiffon dress comes with a $2,250 price tag. Net-A-Porter also carries Alexander McQueen's buttefly print silk dress. The sleeveless, round-neck dress with detachable gold leather press stud fastening belt inspired by Isabella Blow runs for $2,315. And Marni's open-toe patent leather wedges could help complete any skirtted outfit; they run at a cost of $684 at Net-A-Porter.

Economy, The Hemline and You

Paris Fashion week concluded this Sunday, and the media played scrutiny to how designers would approach luxury designs during a period of economic downturn. "Recession was the talk of the town," The Houston Chronicle reported on Milan Fashion Week, just previous to Paris. "[T]he strong euro was visibly taking its toll," says reporter Daniela Petroff  describing the bleak week for shops and shows in Milan.

How will the economy trickle to affect you and your shopping?

Averyl Oates, fashion director at Harvey Nichols, tells the Portfolio that lower priced goods are first to suffer in recessions in stores. "It's simply too easy for people to trade down to the high street for their jeans and casual clothes," Oates tells Portfolio. This may mean lower numbers of generic-seeming denim and accessory pieces in retail stores. You might be able to expect more wow-pieces on shop racks in stores. 

In a store on the other side of the pond, Saks Fifth Avenue fashion director Michael Fink is doing just that. He is "focused on finding clothes women don't already have in their closets," reports USA Today. The New York luxury department director even has a mantra in mind for Saks — "no basics." 

The chief executive officer of Saks Steve Sadov is witnessing "more pressure on the aspirational luxury consumer at our entry-price points," he tells BusinessWeek. The article reports "sales at stores open for a year or more slowed to a miniscule 0.8% gain in December, compared with a 25.7% increase in the previous month." 

Via, The Business of Fashion, economic problems are predicted to "spill over into the luxury sector," affecting companies like Coach and Gucci.

Who's gaining? Companies like TJ Maxx, Wal-Mart and Target reports USA Today. 

Don't go buy your Spring Break swimsuit at Wal-Mart just yet, though. This week, MONDblog will introduce stores with winter and spring pieces at marked down prices ...so you can start spending that economy stimulus check right away.