Gant by Michael Bastian - Spring 2011 - Review

For Fall, Michael Bastian took the whole Lacrosse theme/ Gant branding a little to far. Mistakes are to be expected in a first collection, but I just can't get over all of the beautiful rugby's and sweaters that I had to put back on the rack because they had "F.O.G.O." on the back or Gant embossed buttons on the front. The good news is that it appears, and I can only judge from the press photos, that he has learned his lesson.

Bastian's Spring 2011 showing was strictly preppy graduate heads to his beach house for the summer. Every garment walks the line between fashionable and masculine, a tightrope that Mr. Bastian has been sauntering down in his eponymous line for many seasons now.

Standouts included ripped jean shorts (pictured), a salmon denim jacket, a yellow rain slicker, and a blue and red henley. The good news for the Gant man versus the Bastian man is that these pieces won't cost as much as the down payment on his beach house.

Michael Bastian - Spring 2011 - Review

Preppy goes to the beach for Spring at Michael Bastian. That means everything from skin tight speedos to nautical themed sweaters paired with the usual bomber jacket, short short, trim blazer, cargo pant mashup that Bastian has become famous for.

While the first half of the show was a welcomed jolt, with all of the high powered colors and striking proportions, the second half did not contain the same energy, though it did offer some beautiful suiting options for Spring. A coal colored mac coat with a blue button down and white pants was sophisticated but predicable, as was a double breasted vest and grey pants.

Although the scuba sweaters could be seen as somewhat gimmicky, Bastian, whose clothes have always had a certain cheekiness to them, pulls it off with ease. Otherwise, I am already lusting for the green army jacket that opened the show, the yellow and black striped rugby, the sunburst cashmere crew neck sweater, and the corduroy shorts. Maybe I'll find a chest full of gold on my next scuba adventure to be able to afford them.

GANT by Michael Bastian

Who's excited for GANT by Michael Bastian, launching Fashion's Night Out? I am. At a higher price point than everyday GANT, but a significantly lower than Mr. Bastian's namesake label, these wears promise to retain GANT quality and the Bastian design aesthetic. Personally, I think a lot of it looks like his collection (see: stripped contrast polo above). Start saving.