… H&M celebrates the launch of its designer collaboration – this season Alexander Wang H&M. Its 10th anniversary right now, which is celebrated with the release of a nice coffee table book. In a post around a year ago at the time Isabel Marant pour H&M hit stores I already stated my concerns about the way these high street x high end collaborations are blurring the lines and somehow further contribute to luxury loosing its luster!!!

H&M designer collaborations 10 years anniversary book, pic vogue.fr

According to Business of Fashion (BoF) last years Isabel Marant pour H&M line was among the contributors to the brands incredible November sales that beated analysts estimates. The Telegraph talked about “The Isabel Marant effect”, which in combination with weather conditions and calendar effects brought the brand favorable revenue. And yes friends of mine were laughing at me because even editor in chief of Vogue Paris, Emmanuelle Alt, wore one of the collaborations blazers over and over again! So what did I learn from last year?

Emmanuelle Alt at LV resort 2015 presentation in Monaco in spring 2014 wearing Isabel Marant pour H&M blazer, pic http://www.pinterest.com/stylecloseup/emmanuelle-capucine-geraldine-co/

I should at least have a closer look prior to having second thoughts. OK so lets take a deep breath and have a look at the Alexander Wang H&M collection! Yes my predictions that its going to be a best of Alexander Wang’s T line proofed to be wrong. Surely for some pieces he was inspired by previous collections but it is far from copying best of.

A set of nice looking pieces comes with sheer stripes inspired by Wang’s spring 2013 runway. Depending on how the pullovers and dresses are crafted in particular the black styles seem to be a really fashionable purchase!

Shear stripe pieces from Alexander Wang’s H&M line were inspired by his spring 2013 runway. Mary J Blidge and Kate Mara turned up to the Alexander Wang x H&M launch event wearing pieces from the new collection, pics style.com, vogue.fr, vogue.co.uk

• shear stripe pullover, black or white, EUR 139
• shear stripe dress, black or white, EUR 129

Another nice item is the remake of the “Freja” boots from spring summer 2010. But this time they come with a stiletto heel and seem to be made from neoprenel!

Open toe boots from Alexander Wang’s new H&M line are inspired by his 2010 Freja boots, pic style.com and vogue.fr

• Alexander Wang x H&M boots, EUR 199

What about the rest of the collection? Well this is where I would love to shut my eyes! Its a really weird mix between sportswear and suburban street wear. Heavily branded with “AW” and “WANG”, which is some kind of untypical for a brand like Alexander Wang that rarely shows any logo at all! Its all mousy grey absolutely no color! And yes to some extend I would also like to question whether these pieces are flattering to anyone. OK CFDA certified style icon of the year Rhianna somehow managed to pull the look off, but for the rest of us?

Rhianna wearing an Alexander Wang x H&M cropped top leggins combo in the street, pic elleuk.com

Well I guess I have said enough about the topic. I am sure that I will neither be in the queue in front of the H&M store nor in front of my PC next Thursday. All potential shoppers I wish to use the 10min they have inside the store wisely and think twice! Nothing is nice because it has a designer tag on it! Think about the quality and whether the cut is flattering for your shape!

Alexander Wang pour H&M hits stores and the online shop November 6th 2014, 9:00 a.m.. So one week earlier than last year where pieces started selling November 14th!!!

Are you looking forward to the release of the collection? What do you think will it be the next big hit, like Isabel Marant, or the next big disappointment?