Stylish duos: The fall fashion collaborations you need to know about
This year a teenage model, a fashion illustrator and a 100-year-old denim company get in on the game
Brace yourself, I'm about to drop the dreaded F word. Yes… fall. Likes taxes and going grey, it's coming whether we want it to or not. But as summer winds down and cooler temps set in, freshly stocked shelves brimming with boots, cashmere and coats soften the blow of foregoing all those al fresco dinners. And along with the usual fall finds come exciting new designer collaborations to keep the shopping fires burning. This go-around, a teenage model, a fashion illustrator and a 100-year-old denim company have gotten in on the game. Here is everything you need to know about the most hotly anticipated collaborations coming this fall.
Michael Kors x David Downton
Art and fashion go way back. But at Michael Kors, his capsule with artist David Downton (whose sketches have appeared in Vogue, Vanity Fair and Harper's Bazaar) breaks new ground. "This is our first collaboration with an artist for Michael Kors Collection, and it is very personal," said Kors in an interview. "David captures people's essence and style without feeling the need to draw every detail about them—it's the magic of a great illustrator." Downton's fashionable faces are collaged across dresses and bags giving them the striking quality of a graphic print.
With athleisure moving from trendy to timeless, Victoria Beckham is throwing her hat in the ring with Reebok. The 7-piece unisex collection celebrates the sportswear brand's shared basketball history with Shaq (hence the heavy number 34 branding). While it's not clear what the connection between Beckham and basketball is (wouldn't soccer have made more sense?), the designer takes the slick white logo tee, styled with sneaks, wide-leg pants and a blue steel stare, for a spin on the court in the teaser clip. Long-time O'Neal fans will have no problem dropping $200 on these designer hoodies.
Lee Body Optix x Cushnie et Ochs
How do you modernize a 129-year-old denim company? You join forces with a hip New York label and develop a cutting-edge way to make every butt look its best. "What contouring makeup does for the face, Lee Body Optix does for a woman's body," said Kim Yates, vice president of marketing for Lee Jeans in a press release. "With Cushnie et Ochs' emphasis on raw feminine power and silhouette, they are an ideal partner to integrate a new fashion element into this line." Strategic seams, pocket placement and nano laser patterns are among the bod-enhancing innovations. Where do I sign up?
Karl Lagerfeld x Kaia
Cindy Crawford's 16-year-old daughter is on fire. Since she's already graced the covers of major magazines, fronted couture campaigns and walked the runways of every major designer, it was only a matter of time before the leggy teen struck a clothing deal too. Hand-picked by Chanel's top dog, the collaboration is touted as a mash up of Lagerfeld's French laissez faire and Gerber's California cool. There's no way this collection won't be an instant hit.
Ines de la Fressange, model, aristocrat and style icon, brought Parisian chic to the masses thanks to previous Uniqlo collaborations (think stiff trench coats, corduroy jackets and slim cigarette pants). This season, she extends that same aesthetic to children's wear with her first ever kids collection. Is there anything cuter than tots in pinstriped pants, polka dot dresses and newsboy caps? And since there are coordinating pieces in the grown-up line, it's perfect for the parent who lives for a #twinning moment.
H&M's designer collaborations are the real deal. Counting Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander Wang, Lanvin and Erdem (I'm still kicking myself for not scooping up that floral pant suit) among the past participants, they're a force to be reckoned with in the world of posh partnerships. This year's torch will be passed to the king of kitsch, Moschino's Jeremy Scott, who made the big announcement at a Coachella reveal party with Gigi Hadid by his side. True to Scott style, he has promised plenty of colour and cartoons. I can't wait to see if Spongebob Squarepants and McDonalds' golden arches make a surprise reappearance when it drops this November.
Caitlan Moneta (@caitlanmoneta) is a Toronto-based fashion editor, writer and stylist. She's a firm believer that there's nothing a little retail therapy can't fix.