A petpeeve/gripe that I have with Style.com reviews is their tendancy to put a cold bucket of water over so-called ‘overworked-ness’….down with the artsy-trappings, why does it look so laboured, they just need to keep it simple, what is up with all the unwearble shapes, the fabric is so unflattering…the sort of comments that would probably dishearten any designer and drive them all into all making sleek suits and shirts. As a person who likes overworked-ness, takes pleasure in the ornate and laboured, hasn’t a clue how to keep it simple and couldn’t really give a toss whether I looked my thinnest or not (let’s face it…. if I was concerned with that, I could just prance around in skinny jeans and a t-shirt all day everyday…), it always makes me want to write silly fangirl letters to designers and say "Hey…um… I like REALLY love your work….and um… I think others do too… and um….for what it’s worth hey, I’d like TOTALLY wear your clothes!!", to which they would probably guffaw with laughter over a drink at the George and Dragon.
Modernist are famous for NOT winning Fashion Fringe a couple of years ago even though should have done and they have gone on to super sleekness and slick cut collections. This season however, the edges softened up a bit and amongst all the London candy-coloured frou-frou (and there was a lot of it…), I think Modernist’s take on softness appealed to me most. No pastiches or cliches going on (though I have a feeling I might doll up Luella/PPQ style one or two days next season…) in the collection and just beautiful cuts coupled with the right amount of embellishment and an amazing choice of fabrics that yes, aren’t easy to wear but I just want to wear it goddamnit to feel it against my skin! Structure is often coupled with something slouchier (like those lovely fat and juicy clutches…) and the sharply sheer shirts get softened by the lacey cut-outs. A midriff-exposing-hater like myself even liked their midriff baring look (sorry Miuccia… I haven’t quite bought into yours yet…) with the pretty crochet bra.
Penalised for working too hard on the collections? Perhaps but hey, at least they’ll get a fangirl letter from me…
I don’t even pay any attention to the reviews on Style.com-they are so bad- I just look at the pictures. For reviews I read Cathy Horyn [NY Times], Suzy Menkes, & WWD.
I go straight to the pictures on Style.com as well. And if you’re going to send an inarticulate fangirl letter, I may very well have to join you judging from these pictures.
i adore the gathering of fabrics in these pieces!
I happen to completely adore unwearable shapes, so fuck you Style.com!
Well psshhh to that review then. It’s really silly to say they “worked too hard” – it was a labor of love that had great results!
I have a tendency to always, without fail, completely disagree with every single one of the reviews I’ve read from them. =|
I prefer to skip to the images, make up my own mind rather than the reviews and have to agree with you on this one!
I really love the details and the soft curves of the arabesque patterns and I agree about the clutch, so juicy looking!
why should we read style.com if we have our dear susie?
yes, hate ‘overworked’ comments. please. these are falldown killer- though i would do with just that fascinator/hat and a couple black scrolled shoulder pieces and be set.
I completely agree–Style.com reviews suck all the fun out of fashion, leaving us to rethink being completely unique and wild! Lately the reviews have really been bothering me, though. They create the impression that designers must abide by certain rules established by the Style.com “people” or else be smeared into oblivion…
I’ve never bothered to read a review on Style.com.
I’m just about as removed from the industry as it gets, but I sometimes wonder if there are consistent reactions like this not as a matter of simple bias but because there’s been an increase in the perception of runway looks as existing only as the basis to inform stuff on the racks, rather than as works of art in their own rights. Since these looks don’t translate easily to ready-to-wear, maybe writers don’t know how view and understand them — forgetting completely that not all designs are created solely for commercial purposes.
mmmmmmm lovely shades of purple
I’m really glad you said that, because so many times I’ll look at a decadent, elaborate collection and love it, then read the style.com review and feel grumpy because they’ve panned the frou-frou elements yet again. And I started to think that maybe I am crazy, but no, I should prefer to think that style.com is too rigid in their definition of what makes a good collection.
lets start a fangirl club. i’m sure millions would be happy to join. i love the had and neck pieces.
Such a good point Ms. Bubble! It’s not just Style.com, Suzy Menkes is at it as well: “laboured..over-worked..blah blah..”. I find embellishment can be joyful and there’s something youthful about it too. Obviously too much of it can kill its charm but the reviewers could do with a non-fashion holiday to appreciate the beauty once more.
I think modernist work is amazing, I read the reviwes, however lately I have been disagreeing with quite a few of the reviews, including the one for modernist. I love the purple dresses, especially the one with the pleats
As far am am concerned, the reviews are not bad. They are good. Specially, the design of the Web site is appealing.
I think there can be such a thing as overembellishment but these garments still look tasteful & beautiful. I agree, it just shows how much work they put into their clothes & it shows:)
xoxo
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the neckdetails which are also necklaces and hats are incredable and what gorgeous vibrant beautiful colours!
wow! look at those hats! theyre like fencing masks with lovley embellishments.
ah, the trying too hard thing… i don’t quite get why it’s wrong to look like you’re actually thinking about doing something different.
I’ve never read a review on Style.com. Who cares what they think?
I just like the photos.
I really like the neck details on these. The colors and the fabrics are brilliant. Wispy and structured, all at once. How do they do that?
I’m really enjoying the embellishments and the curvy details, they keep things interesting. I agree that minimalism and sleekness is not everything, in fact it can be downright boring. Fashion is about variety isn’t it?
You go to style.com because they have all the photos in one place and they are quick…Modernist- to be honest I had never heard of them, but it is a beautifully crafted collection. I adore the purple lipstick
I am going to have to agree with you on this one. I love prints, colours,details, embroidery and detail. For me the world would be a very boring place without it.
“Worked too hard” means “You’re not famous enough for us yet.”
I love, love, love the scrolling. The hats are gorgeous!