C’N'C Costume National designer Ennio Capasa approached the fall season with a concept long in development. Viewing today’s generation as the Plug Generation, otherwise known as the youth who are plugged into technology and always online, Capasa looked to a style that is undefined and born from the street–grounded in reality. Elaborating, he expressed, “I am fascinated by the global nature of street culture and its multi-cultural identities. The web is the ideal space to watch how the Plug Generation is moving, to look for new ideas, different trends and ideas. I get a real kick each season out of comparing different cities and this helps me build up an international map of styles, personalities and anecdotes on the Plug Generation. To share with you.”

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Despite Milan and Paris setting the scene for a spate of forthcoming Spring 2010 collections, we became acquainted this past week with a varied array of releases available for Fall 2009. While some hit the mark more than others, the collections all seemed to be participating in a parade of plaid. The plaid, or tartan, pattern was all the rage last fall season, seen in almost every runway show – BryanBoy agreed – and we again just couldn’t escape it earlier this year in Milan. The latest Fall 2009 releases from such labels as the palindromic Kiryuyrik and Junya Watanabe’s self-titled eYe collection with Comme des Garçons continue the trend… is it time to acknowledge that plaid might be just a little overplayed?

Kiryuyrik Fall 2009

Designer Masakatsu Takayanagi – a former pattern maker at Yohji Yamamoto – seems to have made a game of incorporating almost every current movement in fashion in his latest release under Kiryuyrik. There are sheen fabrics, tassels and bondage-inspired strappings, leather boots, a touch of androgyny in the form of kilts and fur… It comes, then, as no surprise that, having seen plaid aplenty during the fall 2009 collections showcased earlier this year, Takayanagi is more than happy to hedge his bets and embrace the tartan trend.

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The upcoming collection from C’N'C’ CoSTUME NATIONAL has everything a useful line needs. With colors restricted to tones of black and gray, room is left for the collection to function in every contemporary way from knits to outerwear. Thin, but long with a deep boat neck, the charcoal knit is the perfect sweater, whether paired with trendy leggings or the faithful pair of skinny jeans. Cropped jackets have both the comfort of being boxy and slightly oversize. Alternatively, well-tailored outerwear competes with the collection’s grungy patched together pants. However, the standout is a pair of daring sequined trousers. Regardless of what piece strikes your individual fancy, the C’N'C’ CoSTUME NATIONAL line excels in offering at least one alluring piece for everyone.

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There are some great pieces to be found in the C’N'C’ CoSTUME NATIONAL spring collection, but the selection and styling of pieces leave a lot to desire. However, these are some great looks for style inspiration with a couple minor tweaks.

12) Remove polo and replace with solid t-shirt or button-up. 25) Remove pink shirt and add oxfords. 29) Replace print tee with solid tee.

4) Replace shirt jacket with leather hooded jacket. 5) Tone down the “plastic” look with stable colors like black and gray.  Black pants would look great with this.  6) A t-shirt with horizontal stripes would break up this somewhat boring outfit and make the see-through look of the jacket pop even more.

7) Cover the belt and slim the denim; gray would look nice.  9) Replace the zippered hoodie with a hooded tee for a fresher and lighter look.  11)  I actually like the monochromatic look going on here.  The only thing I would do is unroll the pants.  Oh yeah — and those sandals?  A definite NO.  This coming spring is all about straps.  That pair are missing like five sets of straps.

Pictures from C’N'C’ CoSTUME NATIONAL