There’s no stopping the fashion machine.  The  London and Milan shows went by at light speed, do we even know what we saw?

London left me dazed and confused for the most part, while my favorites in Milan are still my favorites for obvious reasons: ingenuity, couture level craftsmanship, and style to burn.   Mrs Prada, pimp my ride!

 

Spring 2012 RTW: Milan

Prada

Prada- car flames-  Milan Spring RTW 2012- laurel schaffer-downright red

Prada- Milan Spring RTW 2012- laurel schaffer-downright red

Prada-  Milan Spring RTW 2012- laurel schaffer-downright red

 

Gucci

Gucci- Milan Spring 2012 RTW- Frida Gianini- laurel schaffer-downright red

Gucci- Milan Spring 2012 RTW- Frida Gianini- laurel schaffer-downright red

Gucci- Milan Spring 2012 RTW- Frida Gianini- laurel schaffer-downright red

Bottega Veneta

bottega veneta- Milan Spring 2012 RTW- laurel Schaffer- Downright red- Tomas Maier

bottega veneta- Milan Spring 2012 RTW- laurel Schaffer- Downright red- Tomas Maier

 

bottega veneta- Milan Spring 2012 RTW- laurel Schaffer- Downright red- Tomas Maier

 

Acquilano. Rimondi

aquilano rimondi-milan Spring 2012 RTW- Laurel Schaffer- downright red

aquilano rimondi-milan Spring 2012 RTW- Laurel Schaffer- downright red

 

aquilano rimondi-milan Spring 2012 RTW- Laurel Schaffer- downright red

 

Jil Sander

Jil Sander-Milan Spring 2012 RTW- laurel Schaffer-downright red

Jil Sander-Milan Spring 2012 RTW- laurel Schaffer-downright red

Jil Sander-Milan Spring 2012 RTW- laurel Schaffer-downright red

 

Spring 2012 RTW: London

For me, the London designers were hitting all the wrong notes.  Many collections looked as if an Easter basket had blown up, and some were just tired, re-treads of past hits (in the all pervasive Easter pastels, or obnoxious jungle prints).  A few gems were to be found, however, in the unholy mess:

Roksanda Ilincic

Roksanda Ilincic-London Spring 2012 RTW- Laurel Schaffer- downright Red

Roksanda Ilincic-London Spring 2012 RTW- Laurel Schaffer- downright Red

Roksanda Ilincic-London Spring 2012 RTW- Laurel Schaffer- downright Red

Temperly London

Temperly London- Alice Temperly- London Spring 2012 RTW- laurel Schaffer-downright red

Temperly London- Alice Temperly- London Spring 2012 RTW- laurel Schaffer-downright red

Temperly London- Alice Temperly- London Spring 2012 RTW- laurel Schaffer-downright red

Onward to Paris!

All photos: Style.com

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