Top 10 (sort of) looks from NYFW

 Instead of flagging up entire collections, I thought I'd go against my entire being and be really concise this season so I've done my best to pinpoint my favourite looks instead. Hence why I've left it a little longer -  it's always nice to combine a bit of gut reaction with some afterthought I think. 

Definitely not in order of preference, nor the only looks I could have picked - it would have been easier to do top 50 for sure - but they're the looks I'd actually wear or, more realistically, subconsciously end up drawing on when getting dressed next summer.  Even if it's just doing up a shirt (case in point Wang below) or having a certain theme in the back of your mind (Marc Jacobs' 19th century Coney Island could be an interesting one). 

Full disclosure. There's 13 looks, not 10. I tried.

I'm constantly adding looks to my Catwalks & Collections Pinterest board so have a look-see for updates as the shows happen.

 Wasn't this everyone's favourite? Wang gives us a whole new way to button up (or not as the case may be) and gives us a good excuse for not getting dressed in the morning.

Alexander Wang

 Love the frayed denim - reminds me on London-based Genius's Marques'Almeida. Plus long relaxed coats over casual shorts is a silhouette I'm always fond of. I loved the whole collection in fact - so easy and effortless. Which is exactly why I had to put the 2nd image in at the last minute!

Rachel Comey

Such a slinky, sexy fabric but the draping keeps takes it elegant rather than trashy.  Silvery spaghetti straps always do it for me too.  Really can't wait to see someone wearing this on the red carpet - Kate Bosworth would do this proud. 

Altuzarra

 A big yes to monochrome gingham for next summer. Loving the matching head wrap too. 

Derek Lam

 Just taking lots of notes from this easy-as-they-come ensemble; the collarless shirt, the cropped flares and shoelace-strap sandals. 

Joie

 Marc Jacobs has that amazing knack of showing us next season's silhouette before we even knew it existed, let alone wanted to wear it. These low-slung bermudas combined with the boxy, embroidered jacket was something of a revelation.  Who knew opulent Victoriana and streetwear would prove such a cool, wearable mix? Jacobs strikes again with his own version of the Dickensian Z-boys.

Marc Jacobs

Clean, minimal and finished off with the perfect mule. Tibi gives a lesson in effortless summer dressing. And that skirt even makes me tempted by a print.

Tibi

I tried so hard to pick just one Proenza look but in the end I decided I'd leave that tricky task for someone a little more decisive than I.  The shirtless suiting, the bandage crop-tops, the lurex and mettallic pleating... there was so much to love from Proenza Schouler's collection.

Proenza Schouler

This was another collection I really struggled to narrow down. I'm not sure how long this 90s revival is going to run, but I sense it's here to linger for a little longer and Olivier Theyskens clearly thinks so too.

Theysken's Theory

And finally, the perfect teeny-tiny white dress from Narciso Rodriquez that reminded me too much of Cher's Calvin Klein LWD in Clueless not to include.

Narciso Rodriguez

All images via Style.com

Kane Close-Ups

The inimitable Christopher Kane has done it again.

Clearly feeling confident, and rightly so after his recently signed deal with PPR, Kane ticked all the boxes with his A/W 2013 collection. Admittedly it took a few once-overs to take it all in (60 looks made for a pretty meaty collection), but it pretty quickly became one of those stand-out shows that just keeps on giving in terms of detail and technical precision.

And while the camouflage kilts and fur coats are seriously covetable thanks to Kane�s wearable breed of cool, I think its when you get a little closer that those intricate details really come into their own. Take the undone loop-stitch seams on the velvet pieces for example. So perfect in their imperfection you wonder why you ever wanted a dress that didn�t fall open at the seams.

Christopher Kane

Pre-Fall Favourites

3.1 Philip Lim

Proenza Schouler 

Rag & Bone

Wayne

I'm a big fan of Pre Fall. Designed to be wearable (read saleable), it produces the kind of easy, un-challenging looks you want to wear immediately (albeit with a pair of wooly tights and an extra layer if you're in the northern hemisphere).

The above are a few favourites from the season's offerings so far. All the usual suspects are in there; Lim, Proenza and Rag & Bone, as well as the New York-based Wayne. That snakeskin blazer-meets-bomber is already etched onto my brain....

As ever, the festive period is proving to be a little manic but I promise to share some recent personal shots with you all before Christmas.

xxx

No Wrong

It's official, Acne can do no wrong.  Unlike some resort collections (all stripy blazers, pleated trousers and one pieces), Acne manage to pull off the tricky transeasonal collection with ease...Sleeveless and long-line blazers teamed with the tightest of trousers or the shortest of shorts are at the basis of Acne's covetable solution to gliding seamlessly from winter to summer.   

And the huge floppy leather hats are just ace.