Alexander McQueen Resort 2012

A fusion of military details, Edwardian silhouettes, and the idea of "romantic utility" characterized Sarah Burton's Resort 2012 outing forAlexander McQueen. While staying true to plenty of classic McQueen elements — high necks, cinched waistlines, gold-embellished gowns — the collection also featured an injection of Burton's now-signature sense of softness. Corsetless tulle gowns, fitted lace dresses, and soft-ruffled peplums in elongated cuts portrayed a new, easier wearability. African-inspired leopard prints, colorful embroidery, and mirrored appliques added intrigue to the otherwise neutral palette of khaki, navy, ivory and black.

Lanvin Resort 2012 (and the New Lanvin Children's Line)

A diverse group — Madame Grès, Elizabeth Taylor, and the Princes Harry and William — were Alber Elbaz's inspirations for the Lanvin Resort 2012 collection. There were softly draped dresses and jumpsuits in shades of citrine, taupe, and ivory; marching jackets in tweed and leather; and plenty of ruffles and fringe to go around. Accessories included frayed tweed fedoras, silky turbans, oversized beads (layered on in multiple) and paneled, chain-strap bags.

Diane von Furstenberg Resort 2012

                              

Diane Von Furstenberg Resort 2012 collection consist of loose fitting sporty pieces , graphic print jumpsuits, sequin tops , hot orange and pink shorts .  

“Urban surfer, beach networker and snowboarding dreamer are what DVF and Yvan Mispelaere had in mind for this collection.”

Zac Posen Resort 2012

   

The idea behind Zac Posen's Resort 2012 collection? American Royalty. "It's about how to be dressed up and poised, but still cool; Patti Smith in a gown and Penelope Tree in a trench," says Posen. The way Posen plays with silhouettes is a study in contrasts: a soft, buttercup-printed chiffon dress is gathered into bodice-hugging seams, only to be let loose in a flurry of ruffles at the hip; a peplum waistcoat with a second-skin fit gets a hit of volume at the sleeves with tiers of unfinished chiffon ribbons. But this is still classic Zac — with lots of show-stopping gowns on offer. The stand-out number? A 720-yard, hand-dyed vermillion confection with a swirling, mermaid train.

See the lookbook featuring Coco Rocha, who — according to Posen reps — did the whole 33-look shoot in under two-hours, finishing each shot in the length of time it took for a new song to play on the stereo.

Burberry Resort 2012

Colorful abstract tribal prints, raffia, wooden beads, and crochet detailing populate Burberry's Resort 2012 collection — alongside the requisite handful of trenchcoats, of course. “With our iconic heritage as the foundation, we really wanted to emphasize this feeling of artisanal and decorative pieces that had been touched by hand, celebrating craftsmanship but always with a playful element,” Christopher Bailey explained of the collection's inspiration.


                      
 
              

Thakoon Resort 2012

 Avoiding the so-far pervasive surf trend, ThakoonPanichgul instead went “a little bit gyy, but taking it to the street” for his Resort 2012 collection. And by that he means, he explained: "I didn't want to do a literal gypsy. I wanted to do something that was a bit sportier, a bit more New York."