Matthew Williamson Resort 2012

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NEW YORK, June 15, 2011

By Matthew Schneier

Matthew Williamson, turning Japanese? The designer was inspired by the art and culture of the Far East for his latest Resort collection, which borrowed motifs from traditional Japanese painting for its prints, and shapes from the Japanese wardrobe for its styles. Loose, kimono-like frocks were banded with belts resembling traditional obis, though these gleamed in metallic. Landscape prints influenced by classical Japanese watercolors were modernized with the subtle addition of cityscape elements—skyscrapers inserted among the blossoming trees. Florals played a large part, whether sequin-encrusted and scattered over shifts, flattened into prints, or knit into patterns on long intarsia dresses and skirts. These elements worked best when sparingly applied. A batwing-sleeved nude dress with an obi belt had a band of landscape print bordered by strips of hot, neon chartreuse. Elsewhere, an overreliance on Day-Glo accents and an overly insistent use of print weighed down the collection. Williamson's longtime fans may, in fact, be a little puzzled by his newfound Japonisme. He wisely rounded out the offerings with pieces that would be at home in any MW collection. A long-sleeved draped gown in cobalt blue, for example, and a few drop-waisted lace shifts—a new shape for the designer.

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[Littleathquakes]

nice collection but the background is distracting and on some of the outfits, the patterns/prints seem to act as camouflage with that background. and I can't tell if that was deliberate or just unfortunate.

 

[dazzling85]

Some very pretty pieces and some prints are hideous IMo.

 

[anarcobitch]

love the purple blouse and the blue dress.

 

[catherine88]

Blue dress is very interesting,
I`d like to see her on red carpet

 

[liberty33r1b]

i LOVE the color explosion!! really pretty clothes.

 

[ultramarine]

Eeek ... this season is def a miss for Williamson.

A couple of years from now his collections do not seem that consistent. :/

I actually liked the more minimal pieces better