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| Who: Charlotte Dellal for Charlotte Olympia What: Avalon sandals from spring 2012 collection Why: Dellal's penchant for old-time glamour is clean in the ornate gold metal heel of this platform sandal, which gives new meaning to the term statement shoe. |
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| Who: Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen What: Spring 2012 runway dress Why: This gown made of mother-of-pearl and white shells with a pearl-embroidered tulle skirt transformed the model into a coutureworthy sea creature. The shells were drilled and individually sewn by hand onto the dress, proving hard work really does pay off. |
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| Who: Tom Binns Design What: Cameo choker from the spring 2012 collection Why: Constructed of rhodium, crystal, brass, and epoxy, this neon cameo collar instills Binns’ signature punky edge on a timeless classic. |
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| Who: Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana for Dolce & Gabbana What: Spring 2012 bodysuit Why: At the finale of Dolce & Gabbana’s spring runway show, a band of models marched down the catwalk in varying elastic bodices, entirely hand-embroidered with Swarovski stones and plastic beads in different colors. For the designers, this bodysuit is a tribute to their iconic shows of the ’90s, and inspiration for the bodices came from the sexiness of pinups and the glitter of beauty pageants. |
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| Who: Jordan Askill What: Spring 2012 hummingbird cuff Why: The young British jewelry designer created this resin piece using a combination of artisan techniques and 3-D imaging processes. |
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| Who: Christopher Kane What: Spring 2012 runway shirt Why: Made of 70 percent aluminum organza with 100 percent plastic floral stickers, this top creates the effect of an English garden in another dimension. |
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| Who: Mary Katrantzou What: Spring 2012 runway dress Why: The designer’s signature digital prints contrast abstractions of nature (wildflowers, underwater seascapes) with modernist metallic sculptures on this silk dress with a two-tone chiffon train. |
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| Who: Giles Deacon What: Spring 2012 runway dress Why: Silver laser-cut leather in an elaborate symmetrical design is a bold yet wearable statement. |
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| Who: Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel What: Spring 2012 runway bag Why: Lagerfeld used mesh and silicone to replicate the look of coral on a chain-strap bag in the sea-themed spring collection. |
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| Who: Nicholas Ghesquière for Balenciaga What: Spring 2012 shoes Why: The graphic cutout detail of this shoe, which is made entirely by hand, is meant to resemble flames, while the metal plate on the base simulates a blade. The triangular heel is covered in leather, and the "drop" piece at the base of the heel is in a contrasting colored matte lacquer. All in all, each pair takes four hours of work to complete. |
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| Who: Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy What: Spring 2012 runway jacket Why: Tisci used an array of unexpected exotic skins in his spring collection for Givenchy including eel, shark, and stingray. This laser-cut jacket trimmed in eel skin leaves the beloved leather jacket far in its tracks. |
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| Who: Olivier Rousteing for Balmain What: Spring 2012 runway dress Why: The house of Balmain took a chance on 25-year-old designer Olivier Rousteing to revive the collection after Christophe Decarnin departed last spring, and the result was stirring. The embroidery of this pastel-and-gold floral dress exhibits the kind of meticulous detail the Balmain fan craves. |
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| Who: Delfina Delettrez What: Ex-pression studded collar from the spring 2012 collection Why: As a fourth-generation Fendi, Delettrez has an innate knack for expressing her creativity in wearable art. The surrealist design of this resin heart pendant and studded leather collar necklace from her spring collection makes it a whimsical collector's piece. |
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| Who: Dries Van Noten What: Spring 2012 runway jacket Why: The complex hand-stitched embroidered design of this cropped toreador jacket complemented the designer’s inspiration for the collection’s silhouettes, which he drew from midcentury Spanish couturiers like Cristobal Balenciaga. The embroidery is silk thread in satin stitch and some leaves are done in bullion stitch in cotton yarn, and is accented with Chinese knotted buttons. |