Bandaged and Bleached: Preen’s Pre-Fall ’09 Collection

After over ten years of twisting, deconstructing, and reconstructing Victorian motifs, it's a small wonder and a testament to their skill that Preen's Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi still manage to keep the juices flowing. While this half-season collection sees familiar forms—princess shoulders, scalloped collars, bandaging—it's nowhere near staid. Take, for instance the colorful bleeding bleach textiles used in the shorter pieces, or the swooping lapels of their brown-leather coat—so large they almost become wings. And, oop, there's those hourglass waists and obi sashes we've been seeing everywhere. Postmodern vintage? Furturist Victoriana? Whatever you want to call it, it's been working for Thornton and Bregazzi for the last 10 years, and it doesn't look like it's going to stop any time soon.