As the Cruise/Resort shows come to a close, Stylesight’s denim team rounds up the latest denim looks to hit our Quick Look Carousel. Continuing from our previous highlights, this selection features at some of the industries most notable fashion houses showcasing denim’s continued relevance on the runway.
Denim has always been a staple for Chloe’s diffusion line See by Chloe and Cruise 2014 proved no different with the designer Clare Waight Keller looking to a retro palette of redcast indigos to update the season. Girly silhouettes like short denim skirts, culottes and rompers paired with sneakers and tees gave the collection a fresh and young feel, while hybrid trucker styling on dresses and zip through jackets gave a contemporary edge.
Boyishness and femininity mixed harmoniously in Balmain’s Cruise collection. Olivier Rousteing was influenced by ballerinas and their tutus, but wanted to pair that shape with something sporty. House signatures like elaborate embroidery appeared alongside laser and controlled destruction treatments to create a beautiful visual and tactile texture. While the collection featured the usual body conscious silhouettes that house is famed for, it also introduced a range of new relaxed and slouched shapes like peplum skirts, cowboy shirts and overalls.
The denim in Louis Vuitton’s Cruise show ranged from bohemian to tailored with a strong retro ’70s thread that ran throughout. Contrast in both tone and texture was a key theme with baby blue chambray juxtaposed against rich inky indigos, while exploded herringbones and shredded fringing provided a stark contrast to the cleaner surfaces on offer.
Alexander McQueen’s Cruise 2014 show nodded to the `40s, riffing on the uniform working women wore while their husbands were at war. Sarah Burton’s uniform felt artisanal with boro patchwork techniques created from 11 different washes. A strong workwear reference was felt throughout each looks, with slimmer and tailored styling injecting a modern and feminine touch. Subtle plays with volume like peplum and flared accents also added a more stylised approach.
House of Holland’s take on Cruise 2014 referenced the `60s with bellbottom and shift silhouettes. Patterns were key with oversized starbursts, patchwork and polka dots pairing with dark indigo, while flouncy sleeves and skirts added femininity and volume.