Christopher Kane and Donatella Versace’s Versus collection delighted audiences in Milan. After a hiatus, the brand came out with a variety of sexy, fashion-forward mini dresses that countless young women will be excited to wear.
Aimed at a younger consumer, Versus is the one place to get away from safe minimalism. This season, there wasn’t much in the way of the eye-catching neon, lace, vinyl, and overt sexiness many loved in the Spring 2009 collection. A slew of plaid looks that felt more Christopher Kane than anything else opened the show.
In a seeming nod to the playful nature of the line, the runway set-up included a playground with swings, a merry-go-round, and grass. However, there wasn’t that much playfulness in the collection – it felt rather stark and serious, with the exception of the color-blocked and cut-out mini dresses that closed the show.
Rusty colors from the plaid, floral, and stripe prints that made up the bulk of the looks had more of a subdued, fall feel. Was Kane hinting at a naughty plaid-clad school girl? Perhaps. With so many brands, including Prada and Louis Vuitton, recently dabbling in the plaid arena, many of the looks seemed a season too late.
The vampy side the Versace customer craves came through in the collection via bustier tops, body-conscious cuts that left little wiggle room, and chest-area cut-outs that gave a more youthful feel to the looks. Kane and Versace must be commended for giving their customer a new silhouette to choose from. My money is on the brand’s party dresses that closed the show.
