Tomorrow Alexander Wang x H&M, the 10th H&M designer collaboration, is going to hit the H&M online store as well as selected retail stores in an annual event of queueing and website crashes. I already gave my opinion on the topic about a year ago but after a fierce discussion with some friends over lunch today I want to go a little further into details.
Rhianna wearing an Alexander Wang x H&M cropped top leggins combo in the street, pic elleuk.com
… 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
Phoebe Philo started the bulky flat sandal trend with her spring 2013 collection one year ago. As Karl Lagerfeld said “There is not beauty without some strangeness in the proportions!” one year ago the ugly shoe trend conquers spring 2014 – It needed some time to become mainstream. However, even when buying an intentionally ugly shoe some considerations have to be made to wear it in style instead of sloppy or bucolic. Double strap shoes, crisscross sandals and T-bars are on offer. Which style to choose mainly depends on the shape of the feet….
Celine two strap sandals from spring 2013, photo@celine.com
The Alexander Wang H&M collaboration is number 10 in a line of annual collaborations between the Swedish high street retailer and fashion designers. It was officially announced during the Coachella festival and is scheduled to hit the retail floor November 6th.
The success between the different collabs varied considerably. While the Margiela collaboration from 2012 was disappointing, last years Isabel Marant H&M collaboration was a big hit. It helped to boost H&M’s revenues for November and was worn by “testimonials” like Victoria, the Swedish crown Princess, and Emmanuelle Alt, Editor in Chief of Vogue Paris.
Emmanuelle Alt, Editor in Chief of Vogue Paris, wearing a H&M Isabel Marant blazer during Milan fashion week, photo@http://www.southmoltonststyle.com