Anything but Black

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I missed the ASOS press day where everyone who went seemed to screech out the consensus that ASOS Black for A/W 10-11 collection rocked their world.  ASOS Black has been slowly but surely making its impact as the more exclusive, the more directional and design-led strand of ASOS’s repetoire with an emphasis on dressier, more ‘special’ pieces.  I’ve not had the opportunity to rave about the forthcoming collection but I knew I was down for their current S/S 10 stuff which basically ticks all those boxes that I’m feeling for summer (yes, despite us looking forward to A/W 10-11 S/S 11, technically, we still have a few months of playing around with what S/S 10 has to offer… apologies for not being miles ahead…).

What are these boxes?  Oh come on… as if you have to even ask?  Everyday I get a Tweet or an email, saying “This is so you…!” and it somehow always involves florals, sheer things or ‘dusty’ pastel colours so as it stands, you guys are pretty familiar with those boxes that need ticking.  For this particular collection ASOS looked to the ubiquitous underwear as outerwear, the floods of pastel colours, the bursts of tulle and floral motifs for direct inspiration.  Yup, calling Burberry, Viktor & Rolf, Louise Goldin and quite a few others – me thinks ASOS makes no bones about the catwalk citing and in any case, some of the pieces, in particular the piped ruffled bandeau dress somehow makes a stand all on its own me thinks.

Of course you hand pieces like these to me, and you’re not gonna have them adorned in a bare and minimal manner (with a very tanned model a la their lookbook images…).  Apologies for the lack of tanned limbs but you are going to get layers rammed down your throat because a) it’s not actually that hot here and b) it’s a bridge between summery colours that are supposedly abound now and the fact that autumn is not too far off.  Perhaps the hot sun will never come and in which case, you will be saved from seeing me in less than two layers (think of that hot sweaty mess that was skulking around Brooklyn a few weeks ago…) and if that is so, then I’m happy to be combining gelato colours, all things tulle-like and frothy together with plenty of light layers for the next two months or so…

I got camera-happy this time round because I’ve been having a bit of fun with the Nikon L35 and harrassing the Snappy Snaps dude to well…get snappy and process the damn film…  I have included some digital shots as well that portray the real colours because I’m in no way an atmospheric photographer a la Ryan McGinley who blows pretty little minds with warped colours and wizardry effects…

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(ASOS Black ruffled shoulder satin jumpsuit, vintage white shirt, Uniqlo tights, Alexander Wang wedges, KaPowWow ruff worn as belt)

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(ASOS Black piped ruffle hip dress, Peter Jensen denim top with sheer sleeves, Krystof Strozyna teal jacket, Tabio coral legwarmers, Emma Cook ruffled shoes)

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(ASOS Black ruffle rose skirt, Vanessa Bruno fringe top, Topshop Boutique ruffled dress, KZO knit blazer, Topshop grey boots)

70 comments

  11. oh yes what gorgeous, inspirational outfits. really, i just want to look at them over and over again… i like your use of colour warping camera too.

  12. I love the second and third outfit the most, even though I truly detest floral things and just like dark colours more. It surprises me actually, but you just rock these outfits and make them work for me!

  13. I really like that last look. I have the rose skirt but would never have thought to pair it with a contrasting knit like that. It actually works wonderfully to make the look more casual. Also, I’m now badly coveting that beautiful vanessa bruno fringe top!

  15. You are so adept in finding the perfect color combinations, the teal jacket and coral leggings are wonderful together. Of the ASOS Black pieces, the ruffle rose skirt is my favorite, so beautiful!

  16. Thanks for all the comments! Hopefully the abundance of err pics isn’t too annoying…
    Susu: Just to clarify, the pics are a mix of film and digital… the grainy, yellowed ones are taken on a very old Nikon L35 and the rest are digital…

  23. Fab. These outfits are amazing. The straight cut of the blazer jacket is on trend and my favorite piece. The silhouettes are sometimes too haute couture, but one or two pieces combined in a moderate way, it has defo street credibility.

  25. Oh, these ARE so you! Lovin the first look espesh. Sorry my comment is nuthin spectac but I don’t think I can convey how inspiring these looks are.

  26. Could not get past the major rip off that is that ruffle hip dress (Viktor & Rolf spring 2010 much?..there’s a dress exactly like that one).
    You look lovely as always though 🙂

  33. Ooh, I really like all the outfits you put together! They’re all so sweet, fun and lovely 🙂

  35. Oh my I am in love with the first look. I would wear that IMMEDIATELY and I love how you dressed down the skirt. When is that jumpsuit available? I want it! You’ve done this before, enticing me to buy something and it’s happening again!!! <3
    skiepies.blogspot.com/

  38. Marcela: That’s why I referenced those designers…V&R being one of them…I think that’s why I said they make no bones about referencing them… err… it is ASOS afterall… but I do think that it’s quite cool to be able to get piece that references such a strong catwalk piece for that price (the coral piping is what makes it stand out for me…) especially when that V&R piece is actually not available for sale in most places… in fact the pieces that did filter down from that collection were so far watered down, it was kinda disappointing… so in this specific case, I don’t mind getting my V&R S/S10 kicks from this ‘copycat’ piece…
    Sophie: Not sure but it should be soon as all ASOS Black pieces for S/S 10 should be in….
    Jodyy: Not at all, my youngest sister is a complete tomboy, my third youngest sister is a little more folksy, more Alexa Chung-like and my second sister is more body-conscious and punk-inspired… they’re all into clothes though, in different ways….

  39. I love the ruffle pieces. The third outfit is my favorite…that knit blazer is fabulous.

  40. Wow I cannot believe they copied the V&R dresses quite so literally!! I’ll be showing them these pics next week at the showroom 🙂
    xx
    Duck

  42. Every time I pull out yet another piece of black from my wardrobe, a la fashion editor uniform, I remind myself there is another way…thank you for helping me out! LLGxx

  43. I simply must get a peachy nail color, and you just reminded me to do so! 😉 I really like the over-the-knee-socks. “Anything but black” has kinda become my fashion motto for this year 🙂

  49. The ASOS dress in the second outfit looks a little bit like a Viktor & Rolf dress (spring/summer 2010). This is very nice to see, ASOS did it so well!
    xx.
    lescheveuxblondes.blogspot.com

  57. It is pretty obvious to see that asos copied the designs from Victor and Rolf- which is fine, they are a high street retailer, you can’t expect anything more. Done cheaply and looks so (in my opinion) when you have seen the “inspiration” source. Which begs the question, how does an ASOS collection warrant a place on a fashion-forward blog?? I love your blog but asos have enough press as it is! The designers who asos are copying (not confined to this one example, not by a long way, and including many of the brands that asos buy) are deserving of the credit for design ideas and pushing fashion and trends forwards. Asos and suchlike will always be the ones financially benefiting from these designers, they don’t deserve any credit for this.

  58. Anon: Of course it’s plainly obvious that Viktor & Rolf is the inspiration source and if you read my comment above…. I stated that I find
    On a WEARABLE level though, you can’t deny the accessibility of ASOS and that’s what this post is about – wearing things for real, not admiring things from afar on a catwalk video or a catwalk image… in which case, of course, all credit to Viktor & Rolf
    I did attribute the design to Viktor & Rolf… but as I said before, if every high street store is copying/getting inspired by the catwalk (and ASOS aren’t the only guilty party here let’s face it…), isn’t it rather intriguing that this particularly fashion forward piece by Viktor & Rolf was chosen to be an inspiration piece. On all levels, it’s pretty impractical and even on a sales level, Viktor & Rolf’s original piece barely made it onto the shop floor…… and instead, the tulle designs from that S/S 10 Viktor & Rolf collection were filtered down into mere tulle trimmings on tops and skirts… I think to my knowledge, only Luisaviaroma stocked the showpieces… but not this particular dress either and it was probably on special order – so exactly how accessible is it in the end? Nobody is denying the workmanship on those pieces but who actually got to wear them excepting Lady Gaga and models?
    On the matter of the watered down version, it’s actually physically lighter than the real thing and accessible because as I said, that original dress that was on the catwalk barely made it into retail.
    I’m not attributing ASOS with ‘credit’ for design but I simply fancied working a piece, I genuinely like (and of course, with no access to the real thing…) into an outfit…
    Of course ASOS are guilty parties when it comes to being ‘inspired’ by designers… I never denied that and said so in the post…
    I do showcase plenty of design ideas and hopefully fashion designers (including plenty of graduates) that are trying to push things forward. You can’t accuse me of not doing so…
    However this blog is about variety and as much as I harp on about graduates, ideas, designers in far away lands, I also have to address the issue of accessibility too and it’s nice to say once in a while “Hey you can buy this and it won’t break the bank!”
    I don’t condemn retailers like ASOS and Topshop because they serve one purpose in the system and in some ways feed back to the system (with their collaborations and sponsorship of designers…)… and this blog is reflecting what I buy and yes, I make no bones about buying things from those retailers…
    I never claimed to be a fashion saint and perhaps you expect a bit too much from what is actually in my wardrobe – I support and wear plenty of independent designers and I can prove that to you with previous posts… but at the same time, my wardrobe is about a mix and I have always liked having even portions divided between vintage, designer, high street, independent designers etc…

  60. Hey Susie, love the outfits.
    I’ve been thinking about buying the Piped Ruffle Hip dress, but is it good quality? I was hesitant because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to drop $200 on a dress that wouldn’t last..Does ASOS generally make pretty decent clothing?
    Thanks!
    Best,
    Christine

  63. OOOH MY GOOOOd that last outfit is so CUTE and AWESOME!! GREAT!
    I rly love your blog :–) you got awesome ideas and clothes :—)
    keep going ~ !

  64. Did you fray the shoulder ruffles on the first outfit? It doesn’t look like that on the website. The frayed version looks much better!

  65. Melissa: No, I didn’t fray mine… ooh I wonder what happened to mine in the production line…. this could be a production thing….

  67. it’s been a while since I regularly visit your blog, and I never told you not to post comments … sorry u_u
    I found your blog fabulous! really!
    it is endless * _ * I’ve never been able to visit all the pages as it is long!
    even if I do not always understand everything that is written, I love your articles …
    you got class! you really provides for composing your outfits!
    voila! I just wanted to congratulate you for your blog special!
    I apologize for my bad English .. I am French, and France language courses are very poor! I just starting to communicate, and those through blogs! I also google translator helps me u_u
    dear suzy good continuation!

  68. it’s been a while since I regularly visit your blog, and I never told you not to post comments … sorry u_u
    I found your blog fabulous! really!
    it is endless * _ * I’ve never been able to visit all the pages as it is long!
    even if I do not always understand everything that is written, I love your articles …
    you got class! you really provides for composing your outfits!
    voila! I just wanted to congratulate you for your blog special!
    I apologize for my bad English .. I am French, and France language courses are very poor! I just starting to communicate, and those through blogs! I also google translator helps me u_u
    dear suzy good continuation!

  69. the 2nd and 3rd outfits are my favourites out of the 3. the first outfit although different was very unflattering. i loved the 2nd outfit. the dress is different and unique . something that no1 would have the guts to wear but would secretely love. i seen this online and i fell in love with it and seeing it on you makes me realise why i loved it so much in the first place. the 3rd outfit is gorgeous also i love the dress with the skirt over the top. gorgeous !! loved it !!
    http://myheadandwardrobe.blogspot.com/

  70. It’s a shame that very little empirical evidence is known on this question. I’ve been working on some experiments, but need to finish up those working papers with the results.

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