It’s finally November! Even though I associate this month with end-of-term projects, gloomy weather and horrific crowds Christmas shopping, there are some things I’m looking forward to this month. Most notably, the Versace collaboration at H&M is due in stores on November 19.
Here are some of my must-have items from the collection.
This leather dress ($299) is iconic Versace. Inspired by Gianni’s bondage collection featuring leather and stud accents, the grecian pattern and cut is so sexy. Donatella wore this dress at the Men’s Fall 2011 show, which started the H&M collaboration buzz.
This leather jacket borders on the gaudy side, but I’m curious to see what it will look like in real life. I love the geometric print of the studs, and the asymmetrical zipper.
The collection contains some amzing iconic Versace prints. I love the bright colours and the leopard print. The best part about this piece? It only costs $69.95.
This skirt has just the right amount of embellishment without going overboard. The pleated and soft A-line silhouette is one of my faves… thought I’m not jazzed about the $129 pricetag.
Although this dress is referencing an iconic print from the Versace house, I can’t get over how ugly it is. Maybe in real life it will look better, but the fringe skirt, peek-a-boo shoulders and loud print is just too much.
A more subdued alternative to the print dresses is this gorgeous black silk dress ($149). It embodies Donatella’s feminine and sexy designs. The skirt has so much movement, just like the gorgeous gowns she sends down the runway. I love colour so much, so I can’t believe that all my favourite picks were in variations of black.
The collaboration has a few pairs of shoes, though I find them lacklustre compared to Lanvin’s gutsy and bejeweled pumps last year. The jewellery on the other hand, is entirely covetable.
This bracelet is only $29.95 and features an iconic gold Versace medallion.
This collier ($49.95) features a red-eyed panther, which will probably look like all the mad shoppers hitting the stores on November 19! Last year, I snagged the red chandelier necklace from the Lanvin collection, and I intend on having a repeat performance.
Donatella didn’t forget about the boys either!
There are some gorgeous coloured suits that can add pop as a separate, or worn as a full suit for a dramatic effect. While there isn’t an obvious must-have for men (like the covetable bow ties a la Alber Elbaz in the Lanvin collection last year), the belts and accessories look promising. But the boxer briefs in banana-leaf print? Sexually implicit messages now come in gaudy printed underwear.
I think this collection is a bit loud for my taste, and borders on the tacky. The tackiest part of the collection? The handbags.
The patent leather in tacky colours looks even cheaper with the stud hardware. I can’t imagine the leather quality being stellar at H&M, so these are definitely a pass.
I think that the strongest pieces in this collection are the leatherwear, and there’s no telling how good the quality will be (likely bad). Unless you’re a Versace devotee that’s not afraid of a bold print, I’m confident that many items will trickle back into the stores a week later after a failed attempt at making a quick buck on eBay. Or you can wait until January 19, when Donatella will launch another collection available online (I’m guessing in the U.S. only) for Pre-Spring.
Images via Fashionologie.
