Above the Fray

Our selection of standouts from the recent resort collections

Just as the buzz of new fall fashion tapers and spring is taunting on the horizon, our trusted designers are prepared to step in with reminders of sunlight, beaches, and breezy chiffon pieces we almost forgot existed. This intervention, more commonly referred to as Resort Collections, lands each year with those lightweight, perky, effortless pieces needed for our chic escape to the south of France.

Okay, so maybe we won’t be spending our winter hibernating on a yacht, but who couldn’t use the boost of a clean silhouette, bright and patterned cocktail dress, or a muted-pastel, perfectly-sheer blouse?

Here, we give you our Best of Resort 2011. May our intervention bring you dreams of the glamorous lifestyles and luxurious vacations these collections have come to represent.

LELA ROSE

It’s been said that how we dress represents who we are, and that how we decorate our space expresses our personality. If our individual style preferences are so interrelated, then it follows that the kitchen aesthetic will show up in our wardrobes.

This concept is brilliantly demonstrated by Lela Rose in her 2011 resort wear collection. The designer effortlessly translates the décor of her revamped home into abstract pink and red prints, solid royal blue garments, and complementary neutral designs.

Beyond the customary urge to own such unique designs, Rose inspired us to translate seemingly unrelated sources into our individual styles.

JASON WU

Resort collections traditionally invoke an image of luxury, glamour, and vacation as the clothing worn by those fortunate enough to wait out the winter chill on a sunny beach overseas. While many designers have evolved to accommodate the modern, ambiguously defined “vacation” of 2010, Jason Wu remains faithful to its’ original picture.

Jason Wu’s resort wear encourages those of us shivering through another winter to imagine the fashionable world of a high-society vacationer: a walk on the beach in lightweight Dior, a cocktail and sunset in flirty Narciso Rodriguez, a day of shopping in flowing chiffon Chanel.

As a risk-taking advocate for nonconformist design, Wu presents a resort collection bursting with lightweight, breezy fabrics, layers of ruffles, and a full-spectrum of prints ranging from animal to floral. While Wu received mixed reviews, his penchant for “sweet little dresses” and audacious concepts warrant his “best of” position at Above the Fray.

ANNA SUI

While most resort wear has lightweight fabric and flowing movement in common, Anna Sui’s 2011 collection includes enough fantasy, romance, and ladylike detail to require only a dainty tiara to accessorize.

Sui’s collection is packed with feminine detail: silk, chiffon, lace, flutter-sleeves, pastels, and florals. Despite the heavy focus on romantic pieces, Sui never strays from the chic, sophisticated image we see in her garments.

An elegant gown draped in layers of pale blue chiffon, an above-the-knee, black-and-white print dress, and a floral, corset-like top refined with a loosely-fit, elegant waist were all we needed to fall for this collection.

CHANEL

What better symbol of the perfect beach getaway can trump the ease of simply bare feet? Karl Lagerfeld embraces this tradition with his 2011 resort wear for Chanel; featuring the collection on a St. Tropez catwalk packed with mostly shoe-less models.

Despite the functional disparity between the Fall, Resort, and Spring collections, the traditional elements of the Chanel name remain. Lagerfeld seamlessly mixes bouclé tweed miniskirts and cropped jackets with chiffon, denim, and silk jersey garments; topped with ruffles, floral prints, and beaded details, what’s not to love?

This flawless collection, once again, proves Lagerfeld’s eternal ability to re-invent Chanel each season – without losing its trademark style.

YIGAL AZROUËL

Yigal Azrouël’s resort wear strays from the predictable flowing look often found in Resort collections. The CFDA-honored designer famously disregards trends; opting instead for classic pieces updated each season with the inspiration of art, architecture and travel.

Azrouël is renowned for his draping expertise, loose-yet-tailored silhouettes, and the clean lines consistently found in his pieces. His resortwear follows this distinctive look, while integrating “…classic pieces and different textures” for an updated 2011 collection.

We love the nonconformist perspective offered by Azrouël’s resort wear; a collection of clean, figure-flattering garments for the foundation of our wardrobes – minus the limitations of the traditional, beach-appropriate Resort Collection.

*Photos from Style.com