Altuzarra Resort 2013 Collection

Posted on Jun 29, 2012 in Fashion

One of a number of hot young designers of the moment, Joseph Altuzarra took the oft-referenced safari as his inspiration for his 2013 resort collection, along with the designs of the tribes of Masai, presenting ikat patterns in bold colors, killer tailored coats and jackets cinched with belts in that oh-so-safari kind of way. Love the interesting construction on some of the skirts, with their folds and pleats. It’s interesting to see designers focusing on a much more contoured silhouette lately, letting the clothes be chic and sexy without resorting to a lot of skin. Granted, some of the looks and pieces come off just a bit too complicated for their own good, but overall, we really like this collection. At the very least, it’s not the same old, same old.

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http://twitter.com/J_Orb Josh Orbeta

His skirts are perfection.
- Abigail Speltz
  
  I like many of the skirts, but the last four look like she stood up at a restaurant with her napkin still stuffed in her waistband.
  - http://ufil.ms/bK6Pk Katie M. Nelson
    
    I know TLo said the influence was Africa, but this looks more like Old West/Native American...FoxGetPositionWork.blogspot.com
- Amy Ellinger
  
  I’m drooling over the jackets and capes. Beautiful tailoring, all around.
joe_tey83

Complicated is definitely a good description for a lot of these dresses. The top dress is pure Frankendress.
hughman

A lot of it (like dress #1) looks very Etsy to me. “I MAKE DRESSES OUT OF OLD BED RUFFLES”
- http://joyouslifesf.wordpress.com Kiltdntiltd
  
  And I find myself wondering what that complex detailing is going to look like after m’lady has been sitting for a few hours.
  - Isadora Paiva
    
    To be fair, it can’t look much worse than it already does…
    - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2P2ANLRZ6YAVGONA36I2AQJYGI VicD
      
      There is MUCH to love here (including the boots and sandals), but that dress is the very definition of “Frankendress”
- ballerinawithagun
  
  Agree!
http://www.thirteen.org/downton-abbey/category/the-downton-dish/ Gotham Tomato

That first dress looks like it’s off its meds. It seems he used the belt as the unifying element and I don’t think it works. There are a few interesting pieces, but overall, this collection looks like the fashion equivalent of throwing spaghetti against the wall.

–GothamTomato
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Lucía-Gavello/1253586868 Lucía Gavello
  
  I agree, in some of the looks the belt actually works but in most of them it throws everything off. And while I like some of the jackets and dresses the effect of the collection as a whole is really off-putting.
- gabbilevy
  
  More like spaghetti western. I know TLo said the influence was Africa, but this looks more like Old West/Native American.
- http://twitter.com/meredeth_gwyn Meri
  
  The first dress immediately reminded me of flowery pubic hair. TMI, I know, but I must commiserate.
RebeccaKW

First dress: What, this old thing? It’s just a bustier dress worn over my boyfriend’s dress shirt, with a denim skirt over it, my Mexican pride belt, and my American Indian mocassins that I cut the toes off of. You know, I just threw it on.
- alyce1213
  
  . . . in the dark, right?
  - RebeccaKW
    
    And with a blindfold on
everest19

Loving some of the prints..very “Navajo-chic”. But that first outfit with the ruffles is just…awful.
- marianna_m
  
  The prints are inspired by Masai ikat patterns. That’s not even the same continent as the Navajo.
  - everest19
    
    Your tone seems very pointed right now. Casual mistake.
    - marianna_m
      
      My tone is irrelevant–though my whole point was the ease with which white Westerners can “casually” mistake two very different non-white cultures for one another.
MilaXX

I like the simpler looks here. The prints get a little too busy and some of these looks are a bit overworked. The thumbnail/first look is a hideous frankendress. He may be one to watch, but I’m not completely sold yet.
- Lisa Dugan
  
  I agree. The black ones are great and the simpler prints are lovely. I really don’t like the first look. It looks like she needs a waxing.
Lina_bee

At least he referenced a specific nation of people instead of generic “tribal”, I guess? There are some great shapes here, but most of it seems rather heavy for Resort.
schadenfreudelicious

no sober person could have come up with that first dress…
Saucysusan

I dig the skirts & most of the black pieces. Interesting work.
SpcilK

I really like the juxtaposition of fabric, color, and construction of this line. it’s unique and fun!
Christina Brennan

Those boots are to die for.
another_laura

The first look shown is in that waaaaay-too-busy-for-its-own-good category, and I do not like those last four foldy skirts. Okay, fine, I also hate peplums.

That having been said I love the black/white and black/tan combos and I want that blue and white striped jacket in the first row!
http://twitter.com/MandySCG MandyJane

The dress in the first picture is hiddy, but I like most of the rest… except the ones with the corset thingy on the outside.
oatmealpie

Hand-on-thigh placement is very important for this collection.
LesYeuxHiboux

Safari themes are the Lunesta of fashion for me. That header dress is an explosion of crazy. I like the striped pieces and that last skirt has an interesting shape (though it skews vaginal). Nothing to write home about.
MightyMarshal

This collection says “Kardashian” to me. IDK why.
kimmeister

Oh look, there’s the boob tassel dress Michelle Williams wore the other day.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=751285857 Sally Brownson

I got so distracted by the FAB BOOTS in the second row that I failed to notice anything else.
bitchybitchybitchy

That first look, with the blue shirt and blue skirt inlay is awfully busy-too much going on;having said that, I loke many of the other looks in the collection. He looks like someone to watch.
Sara__B

I can picture Alexa Chung wearing most of these.
drdirection

that first picture appears as if her lady bits are growing a fungus
Monabel

Everything looks overworked.
Reneesance

I like that first cape? coat? quite a lot and I love the ikat skirts but I COVET that blue ikat dress. Want want want.
Indovina

I have to say that I don’t see anything even generically “African”, much less specifically Maasai, about any of this. The patterns are not reminiscent of Maasai patterns (which are mostly stripes and checks), nor is there a particular emphasis on the colour red, nor is there much of anything that structurally resembles East African clothing. And I’m not positive, but I don’t think ikat is an especially common decorative technique for the Maasai, either.

Like several other commentators, if I had been asked to guess, I would have said Western/Southwestern.

So, I’m a little confused. Is this a case where the images called to the designer’s mind by an inspiration are at odds with the those of the audience? Or at least with with me? Am I overthinking things? Underthinking things? I don’t know.

I do know I’m being distracted by pedantry – but I also don’t have much reaction to the designs themselves. They’re not speaking to me. Many of them seem horribly overwrought, though I like, but don’t love, a few pieces. It’s just not a collection which interests me much in and of itself.
http://frankbettecenter.org/ sleah_in_norcal

this looks more pocahantas than masai to me.
SophieCollier

I love these looks, but I’m worried what they’ll look like on women who aren’t 6 feet tall and 115 lbs.
- snarkykitten
  
  and flat as a board
http://twitter.com/LOfficielEbony TheVeryLivingEND

I’m pointing at everything on the screen, going “Oh! That’s good! That. Is. So. Good.” The black and white ensembles looks amazing.
guest2visits

There’s something oppressive and frumpy about alot of the collection. Heavy and little too fussy. Hate those gladiator heels.
I do really like the belted jacket that appears in both black and in cream.
quiltrx

Now see, here’s a designer who understands how to work the peplum/weskit look.

Loving the coats and the ikat prints. And sign me up (with my imaginary money of course) for one of those capes!!!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RHLSUVX3NCPB4OSS5BM7GZIXUE P. Capet

i don’t get it
TieDye64

Second row, middle and right…love! The coats and jackets are gorgeous.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NUZ2RGIDRXKK6ADHFPPCR6S3WI MariaM

Evidently this resort is inside a bank located serendipitously on the Serengeti. Some of the pieces are pretty, but the whole approach is ….odd.
Holly Kinnamont

He went to my alma mater! <3 for Swarthmore.
Thathoodwink

The first dress’ bodice looks like a long-line bra worn over an oxford shirt, buttons and all. It’s ridiculous. And that’s just the beginning of the asininery.
KathKo

I can’t get behind the prints, but those coats, those capes, those black suits/dresses… Love *_*
Sarah Thomas

Incredibly on trend, and I will take all the shoes, please.
anotherkate

I was nervous after the headline pic, but there are some really beautiful pieces here. Love the prints, and I’d gladly take any of those jackets off Mr. Altuzarra’s hands.
formerlyAnon

I like some pieces, but as a whole collection it looks like really well-tailored meh. My opinion is no doubt unduly colored by the fact that I don’t love ikat print and the colors, with the preponderance of grey, not-really-khaki and muted blues, aren’t speaking to me.
ccm800

Resort? Fall maybe
CatherineRhodes

I do not like one single piece.
MilaXX

UGH Kerry Washington wore that tan bustier and it’s the exact color of her skin. Looks horrible!
librarygrrl64

I like a lot of these, but that first look you posted is completely reedonkulous. Denim vulva fungus.
BigWhiteGrannyPanties

Um. I hate these. I hate this collection. I don’t get it. Absolutely don’t get it.
marilyn

The first look is hideous, and the others are boring- off the rack stuff. That first look has the outside bra, the ruffles over the crotch with a rainbow belt and a man’s shirt. Nuts.
Allison Shannon

I know this is completely off center, but does anyone else ever feel creeped out when they make the models ~model~ this way? They are real life mannequins, which doesn’t make sense. Why not just put the clothes on some actual mannequins instead of telling the model to make the same face, the same pose, and to basically look dead in every photo?
- H3ff
  
  I guess it’s the compromise of placing the focus on the clothes themselves, while still giving an idea of how they look on a human body.
BrightsideSusan

The first dress made me afraid. But the rest were a nice surprise.
mznormann

Yikes, that first dress is a hot mess.
bitterk

No can stand the early prints. Reminds me of throws.

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Altuzarra Resort 2013 Collection

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