Sarah Burtons Spring/Summer 12 collection for Alexander McQueen was another strong nod to her design ability and her love and respect for the late designer himself. Like Chanel, the McQueen collection noted the sea as inspiration, although the follow-through was of a completely different nature. Burtons ocean was full of more delicate mermaids and octopi vs. dark sea predators. the looks were body conscious and yet moved beautifully, as one would imagine movement under the sea. darker looks in laser cut leather interrupted the delicate looks, bringing forth the notion of the circle of life.

:: designer Sarah Burton.  images via style.com.

an ethereal carousel was center stage for Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer runway for Louis Vuitton. presenting a collection of soft, and often fluffy, looks Jacobs brought forth confectionary colors easily at home in a swath of cotton candy at the carnival. although mostly sweet, there were pops of edge in certain pieces (still, in pastels) such as crocodile biker jackets and leather used in full skirts.

Kate Moss closed the show in a very short dress with a flower cut print with free falling feathers.

:: designer Marc Jacobs. images via style.com.

Chanel’s Spring/Summer collection was light and fluffy and full of colors from the sea- or Karl Lagerfelds version/vision of the sea. many of the looks had a pearl effect, organza and silk with a sheer sheen, often paired with layers of pearls worn around the neck  or slung around the hip.

Florence Welch invoking Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus while singing “What the Water Gave Me”.

::designer Karl Lagerfeld and Florence Welch. images via style.com.

Olivier Rousteing had some large shoes to fill at Balmain after the former designer Christophe Decarnin had spent the last two years taking the line to a new level. although Rousteing had already presented his debut collection, during the past Resort season, this was his first “all eyes on him” moment.

for Spring/Summer 2012 Rousteing focused on wearability versus the former designers bigger is better attitude. do not get me wrong, embellishment was still used but in a much more user, or wearer in this case, friendly way. metallics were used in heavy rotation, from a gold and white patterned mini skirt to a pair of high-waisted gold pants, and most notably used as huge belt buckles on looks paired with leather. denim was also used on a pair of low-rise wide leg pants and a flared denim skirt.

:: designer Olivier Rousteing. images via style.com.

Riccardo Tisci cited mermaids and surfers as his influence for the Spring/Summer 2012 collection.  his tuxed-up version of a wet-suit was found in jackets and body-con dresses, accented in eel skin, shark or stingray (side note : i do not think surfers or mermaids would be okay with the designers choice on this one), and large shark teeth were found on necklaces and protruding from the delicate straps of the heeled sandals.

:: designer Riccardo Tisci.  images via style.com.