Spring and Summer: The Seasons of Pastels and Purples

The Taste Maven officially has begun the Spring and Summer 2016 fashion season!

And the first decision made by this esteemed publication is to award the prestigious Taste Maven Stamp of Disapproval to Chanel’s Couture Spring/Summer line. Why, Maven, have you decided to give this award to this one designer when there are so. many. terrible. designs? I know. I know. Honestly, the reason I had yet to award the Stamp of Disapproval to anyone is because I wanted it to be a really good one that no one could argue with. And that is not really the case with this Chanel line. However, if there is one thing that I hate it is anything that accents what I call “teacher arms”. Remember watching your teachers writing on the blackboard and their pale underarms would flap around like they had tapioca pudding falling out of their short sleeve blouses? Those are teacher arms. And this line of Chanel gives every woman teacher arms. Let me give you an example:

What, what, what are you doing? Trying to appeal to the asymmetrical bun-wearing, linoleum kitchen floor loving librarian demographic? No? Are you not convinced by that image. How about this one, which I think single-handedly takes women’s clothing in politics back several decades: No one wants to be shaped like that. They just don’t. So, obviously, if ill-fitting garments and trends that no one wanted was a deal breaker, the fashion industry would be dead. Why am I making a big deal about this? Because I like Chanel. Not that I could ever afford to buy anything they make, but I appreciate Chanel’s efforts in introducing masculine elements to women’s fashion. And I can appreciate that perhaps this newest line is a bit of an homage to the knee-length skirt and cardigan-style jacket of the classic woolen Chanel suit. That doesn’t mean I have to like it. Because, in case you were wondering Karl Lagerfeld, I don’t. It’s not that I think all clothing has to be flattering, but I do think it should have appeal.

Moving on!

Good golly Miss Molly there was a lot of purple present on the patterned promenade. Lilac, lavender, orchid, iris, violet and heather gowns blossomed up and down the runway. And so I am going to include here what I think are some of the best I saw. I certainly loved some more than others. See if you can guess which is which!

ELIE SAAB: