>> Comme des Garçons for H&M – a comment

The buzz was that of all fashion happenings – a queue of it-bags-clad girls at the door, that tingle of anticipation in the air, champagne and canapés, a dj-set, and PR girls running around everywhere and guarding the goodie bags with a broad but fierce this-is-not-for-you smile on their faces (the bags only contained a – very heavy! – copy of GQ and a 30ml bottle of the new H&M+Comme des Carçons fragrance, I really don’t know what the fuss was about). The Comme des Carçons for H&M collection was being unveiled at London flagship store in Regent Street and, short of limoes and a red carpet, the setting was that of a big event. And there we were:

>> Comme des Garçons for H&M – preview!

So I’ve just received my invitation for the Comme des Garcons and H&M event on 12th November, when Rei Kawakubo’s creation for the Swedish fashion giant will finally be unveiled. And I also have some preview pictures of the capsule collection, which sees the avant-garde Japanese designer engage in a collaboration with H&M after predecessors such as Viktor&Rolf, Stella McCartney, Karl Lagerfeld and iconic Finnish house Marimekko.

Now, do you remember the hype about the Marimekko collection a few months ago? I certainly do, as I also bagged myself a couple of pieces! But now, after having seen the preview pictures for the new CdG designs, I’m wondering: am I that excited again? Has Ms. Kawakubo really showed us what she can do this time? And what is it with the polka dots??? No, seriously.

>> marimekko @ h&m – the aftermath

So how many times exactly did I say here that I love all things black+white? And did I ever mention before that I hate wearing prints, but of course there are exceptions to this rule of mine? Well, have a look at this:

>> marimekko @ h&m – the preview

Yes we have them – preview pictures, and the date! The H&M collection featuring Marimekko classic prints will be on sale on April, 10th.

Here is a small anticipation of the collection:

>> marimekko @ h&m – whoever said I don’t wear prints??

It all started with Stella McCartney. It was a new idea and it worked. Then it went downfall – anyone remembers Madonna’s collection, or Kylie’s bikinis last spring?

Yes, we are talking about H&M‘s collaboration with fashion designers/icons – a great idea in itself, if a little too exploited recently (although, admittedly, the Viktor&Rolf one wasn’t bad at all). So, after ‘celebrities’ of all kinds started ‘designing’ for virtually every high-street brand out there, and rock bottom was hit with Lily Allen’s collection for New Look, it looked like the fad was over – and we all sighed a sigh of relief.

Or maybe not?

Maybe not, because they’re at it again. Good old H&M, never short of tricks. Only, this time the trick is so promising that I actually cannot wait to have a date to put down in my diary. To say that I’ll actually go queue outside the store at 5am on the day is still pushing it – but I’m planning to make a dignified appearance at around 10am, and then stock on as much as I can!

Because this time it’s not just any collaboration with any name that we’re talking about. This time, it’s with über-cool print designers Marimekko.

And that’s not even all! We won’t be getting just any flavour-of-the-season print. Marimekko have actually digged deep in their archives, and original prints from the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s emerged, which will feature in H&M’s Spring 2008 collection. Could it sound any more exciting than that?

Not much else is known about the collection, but the mood sketches the company are circulating already tell me that I’ll be sporting long bold-colours gowns this summer – just what I needed, to go with my signature giant-sized necklaces, and those great wooden-sole Trippen clogs….

Relevant posts: >> marimekko @ h&m – the preview