Although the inspiration was Southern California, Michael Bastian's spring collection still offered up his signature uptown preppy aesthetic.
The designer’s novelty cashmeres were out in force.
Ezra Koenig, the lead singer of Vampire Weekend, is known for his preppy style, so it made sense that for he made Michael Bastian his first fashion show.
For fall, the designer culled from his recent trips to Japan.
Bastian was inspired by a series of classic French films, like “The Red Balloon” and “The Dreamers,” that he watched while battling a cold.
Bastian’s preppy guy took a trip to the Lower East Side this season, with a burst of Goth and grunge influences opening his show.
A louche elegance pervaded the lavender sport coats, berry-hued chinos and artfully frayed corduroy shorts.
This season, Bastian played up a masculine-feminine theme.
The designer has a well-honed merchant’s eye and there were plenty of retail-friendly pieces across lots of classifications.
The easiest route to scuba-theme overkill is neoprene, but Bastian made the point and swiftly moved on.
Despite some confusing missteps, Michael Bastian’s collection retained what people love about it: color, vitality and classics with a twist.
The scene backstage at Michael Bastian’s fall 2010 show.
Michael Bastian’s first seated runway show represented a big leap in terms of brand marketing, and it was a commendable effort at that.
The cheerfully preppy wardrobe Bastian is known for ceded by varying degrees to a Nineties grunge look more befitting a sexy drifter.