Uh-oh, I'm going to be the *only* one here who is going to say, although this is beautifully executed, he's gone backwards, and not in a good way. He's shown himself capable of doing only one particular look, not unlike Vivienne Westwood's, and he isn't able to pull off any other even though he's tried with the past two seasons. In that sense, I'd give the much less talented Marc Jacobs more credit for being able to shift with the times, just contrast the past collections with the current ones. Of course one can argue that he is being consistent and true to his roots, but fashion is fickle. McQ is doing what Balenciaga did for Spring 06, max out on period references and frills, and the winds of fashion are blowing the other way. Cynically, of course the winds are generated by the rush to move merchandise, but come 2007, when the more streamlined looks are all over, this will look dated, and it is dated, circa mid-90s McQ, when the "Gothic Lolita" (for want of a better reference

) craze was sweeping McQ to his pinnacle. Ok, not a beep more from me.