Preen Turns Up the Volume With Hot Pink, Spacey Rosettes, and Lots of Glam

It used to be that design duo Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi's trademarks--the asymmetrical minidresses with racy hemlines, the edgy, sometimes unwearable cut-out frocks--were to Preen what Decarnin's drummer-boy jackets and distressed jeans did for Balmain. But lucky for us, Preen had some new tricks up their sleeves for spring that resonated more like Tisci's dark romanticism for Givenchy rather than a rehashing of the tired '60s silhouette. A lively hot-pink jumpsuit was made even prettier with silk ties at the ankles, while futuristic rosettes blooming from the bottom of a peplum dress (and just about everything else on the runway) called to mind a younger, fresher Giambattista Valli. Of course, there were amped-up versions of the cut-outs (this time in mesh and lace), conical heels we must get our hands on, and one-shouldered wonders, which we're sure front-rower Leigh Lezark would happily snap up. And though Brit beauty Alexa Chung was wearing a white Opening Ceremony number rather than one of Preen's power dresses, we're sure she wouldn't look too shabby in one of their minis, long legs and all!