This season Alexander McQueen focused on his more playful side showing a collection drawing inspiration from beach culture and the surfer rebel. Models had frazzles and sculpted hair but the sun kissed makeup and styling you soft but energized by the sun. The opening section was full of playful prints like polka dots. Post show the McQueen even commented on his downtime along the ocean side. One of the standout looks in the opening section is a pale brown/white polka dot print shorts suit. A matching blazer and shorts in the same polka dot fabric is paired with basic white dress shirt finished with a matching polka dot tie. Another highlight of the collection in the opening section are the bowling shoes McQueen showed in several bright color combinations. In the second section he takes the bowling reference another step with several bowling and letterman jackets from 50’s worn with long pants. Of coarse worn with a bowling shoe!

While you can see a lot of 80’s references throughout the collection it’s the little details that really stand out. This season McQueen showed a lot of typical fabrics but his use of synthetics is starting to increase more and more. Another strong statement McQueen made this season is his prints, while they are not bold and shocking, they really blend well with a lot of shock pieces. In the third section McQueen increased his use of prints, prints on everything from shorts, jackets and shirts. He also showed a series of knit pieces that really took on a different look. First is a white wide neck soft cotton knit sweater with stripes of blue around the neck and bottom of the sweater. The look is finished with a blue and white gingham shirt and pale lavender short! I don’t know its just me, I love the pale lavender shorts. The other standout knit pieces was a stretched out 80’s design sweater worn really low and the sleeves covering the hands. It’s a crazy sweater but I love the color combinations and the strong statement of color! I wish we could have seen more of the colors in the collection.

For the fourth section McQueen showed more sheen, with a few leather pieces and lycra tops and silk blend blazers. The closing section was a series of mafia style suit looks with the models drenched with water. This section was the only drab section in the collection. The must have pieces from the collection are two of McQueen’s printed overcoats. First up, is the tan/army green photo print on a twill overcoat worn with a orange and white short. The other overcoat is a 60’s style pop log print of uplifting words on white twill overcoat. The styling of the collection is a little hit or miss. McQueen gave us a few key look that can define the Spring/Summer season, but there are several groupings that are just stale. For example the closing section of drenched male models in black mafia style suits with no shoes on! Color and prints are the key statements in this collection, not to mention McQueen’s lean silhouette. Lee abandons the full silhouette this season in favor for a short more light collection, more skin for McQueen! Bravo Monsieur McQueen!

View complete collection at Wireimage

[images viaWireimage.com]