Raoul’s Cruise Collection Is Retro, Re-Envisioned

We spent the past week at Singapore's Blueprint fashion tradeshow, which presented some of the island's (and surrounding countries') designers with the most potential to make it big, internationally. We were especially into Singapore's Raoul 2012 cruise collection, a nod to the past and a wave to the future. Undeniably inspired by '60s mod dresses, necktie blouses (some silk, some mock), and pleated miniskirts, the collection is filled with saturated hues of tomato orange, grass green, navy, and whites so bright that you may squint when looking directly at them. We love the mixture of iconic, retro pieces with a few futuristic details, like super-sleek tailoring, metallic sheens, and a plastic/leather mixture in shoes and accessories. What the pieces may lack in wild embellishment, they make up for in polish and a wide range of flattering silhouettes, from boxy and trapeze dresses to waist-cinched jackets and high-waisted skirts. We're also pretty psyched that Raoul has showed their softer side with speckle and tulip print chiffon dresses that swing lightly as a summer breeze.