Alexander Wang Resort 2012

While i'm not such a great fan of Alexander Wang, I have to give credit where credit is due; he is a designer who seems to be growing from strength to strength as he learns to sift through his ideas in an effort to present a fresh aesthetic, as well as wearable clothes. And wearable clothes there were in this collection!
Sure, his usual motif of sportwear-as-actual-clothes continued, but there was something so fresh and impressively minimalistic about these pieces, that even his staunchest critic would have to concede.
Introducing scuba-wear, Wang even layered the swimsuit, making it not just a thing for the beach, but an active part of an everyday look. I especially loved the ultra-cool outerwear and shirt-dresses, that i'm sure will be a hit with the New York City crowd.

Lanvin Resort 2012

Is there any other designer of female clothes who has their finger on the pulse of fashion more than Alber Elbaz? The man is a GOD of design, a real stalwart who ably gives us that perfect mix of art and commercialism. I can't find any other word to use other than "exquisite" to describe these pieces.
I especially loved the use of plissé on some of the pieces, and how opulent it made them look. Speaking of opulence, the chokers, chains, beads, and pendants that decorated each neckline were a thing to behold; this is a house known equally for its accessories as its clothes, after all.
Also on display were a few pieces of Elbaz' cutesy new children's line, and I can just imagine the cost of those. No worries, as i'm sure discerning fashionista mothers out there will shell the bucks out for that.

Prada Resort 2012

A Prada collection is only as strong as the bags showcased within said collection, and as such, this was a pretty strong one. Prints were juxtaposed, looking completely off at times, but in the true essence of Prada, they worked handsomely.
In what was a very prim and lady-like collection, prints were loud, jackets (whether knitted or blazer-like) added demureness and colours were lush. Patent-leather bags and clutches were given tongue-in-cheek lipstick kisses and flowers as patterns, (in an effort to make them instantly recognizable in the hands of the many celebs who will be rushing to snatch them off shelves, i'm sure) while dresses and skirts were all kept at knee-length and forties-esque.

Akris Resort 2012

With knits, brights, flare-legged pants, leather, jumpsuits, paint-splatter prints, what was the one thing that tied the Akris Resort 2012 collection? The 70's.
I particularly liked how clean the designs were, even if I wasn't feeling every one. Accessories were a definite high-light, in a collection (and label) dedicated to the older fashion enthusiasts amongst us.

Balmain Resort 2012

Having studied under Christophe Decarnin for two years, Olivier Rousteing is now at the head of the Balmain label. Sure, the clothes are still imbued with Decarnin's rock edge, but under Rousteing's vision, there's a bit more depth here with inspiration as varied as Las Vegas and Native America.
It's gonna take him a lot more to prove his commercial clout, but my senses tell me he's more than capable- just look at those prints and jackets!