Donnatella Versace strikes the high street again. This time with a brand new cruise collection for SS12 in collaboration with H&M on January 19th, 2012.
The best part is that it’s only available online - so those of us averse to queuing up at the crack of dawn for a chance to buy a skirt (and potentially get stabbed by a hanger or trampled by a crazed blogger or fanatic), can wake up and simply log onto our computers. Sweet relief. As much as I was tempted by a few of the pieces in last month’s much anticipated first Versace for H&M collaboration - full of iconic and archival inspired pieces - it wasn’t enough for me to line up before working hours in Oxford Circus. I am far too lazy.
This next collection offers a completely different feel to the graphic prints and body con, cut-out dresses that are so very signature Versace. It’s meant to be a holiday capsule collection with bright candy colours and fun fruit prints, butterfly prints, ballet pumps and charm bracelets. The feel is light and feminine and looking at the white jeans, cute printed bikinis and my personal favourite - fruit print lilac shorts - I can’t help but imagine myself on a beach somewhere in Palm Springs drinking freshly squeezed orange juice and breakfasting on blueberry pancakes. Mmmm.
The perfect antidote to the winter blues - this Versace for H&M Cruise Collection makes me crave a sunny holiday away in February. Because there is no amount of pairing with opaque tights or chunky sweaters to make this collection work in the bleak freezing rain of London. These cheerful fruit prints are meant to be worn while eating pineapple slices in the park, not slogging through 4 inches of rain to run for the number 19 bus.
Versace for H&M Cruise Collection launches online January 19th, 2012
Main image - white print dress, £59.99