LOOKS LIKE...A.F. Vandevorst is ready to tame some wild animals!

     I've always been a large fan of collections inspired by the wild and hunting, although when I have seen such collections in the past, they were frequently inspired by the hunter rather than the huntee; in this case, that would be a fox, rabbit, or raccoon of sorts. I find myself oddly drawn to this Fall 2011 collection by A.F. Vandevorst regardless of the fact that the models literally have fur tails sprouting out of their rears and leather ropes/belts tied around them in a way that makes me feel like this hunt is over. The "belt cages" constructed to encase the furry tails is a detail I find especially peculiar. If I was an animal, I don't quite understand how I would use the restroom with my hind part encased! Fortunately, I am not an animal with such an anatomy and neither are the models; this may make it slightly more acceptable to the designer and may allow a sense of relief to travel through his body as he comes to the realization that yes, his models will be able to use the restroom with ease.
     Now-all tails aside, let's discuss the rest of this beautiful collection (joke?). I never realized the endless amount of ways a basic black coat could be tweaked until seeing this collection. Asymmetry was taken to a triple-max as each variation of a winter coat went down the runway. I especially love the pleating, rouching, and folding that each garment possessed (I go nuts for the architectural stuff). The stunning combination of the navy silk and blue fur in the second look is a rich ensemble that I would do a good amount of manual labor to wear. My favorite piece in the collection? That odd little belt/harness-like deal in the first look. Though I am not too sure as to what it really is, let's be real: how incredible does it look on that girl? And, it is oddly enough wearable by a large audience of individuals (even though I'm not sure how many would actually purchase and wear it!).
     Overall, A.F. Vandy did a wonderful job bringing out the stray animal in me. I would gladly wear any of these pieces, no matter how many nervous hunters I would have to rabbit hop away from. To take this look from fox to foxy, try one piece of fur or one of the new belt solutions. Pair that with a silk top and structured jacket. Make sure to add some texture to get a "thrown together but still effortlessly stylish" look that everyone will envy!