The fashion month is in full swing and after New York, it’s now time to bid adieu to London Fashion Week’s commotions as well.
The two cities share similar upheavals on the eco-political side, so it comes as little surprise to see that New York’s ‘Americana’ trend has crossed the sea and translated into an edgy ‘Brit-pop’ theme for British designers.
Notably, there are quite a few crossovers like the abundant ‘celebration of femininity’ in all its regalia and a rage of transparency. Taking the infamous ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ wartime poster quote very close to their heart, the British creatives unleashed their most innovative and artful designs for the upcoming spring season.
The standout trends were a tug of war between heritage checks, last season’s ruffles and shiny transparent fabrics as well as bright new hues like yellow, baby lilac and tomato red.
For Spring/Summer 2018, Christopher Kane championed sheer fabrics, feathers and micro florals in pastels; JW Anderson presented a very naturalistic line-up in dressed down linen, Napa leather and marled yarn knit materials.
Meanwhile, Hussein Chalayan made a strong case for British tailoring with his reimagined shirting, jumpsuits and impeccable suiting options; whereas Mary Katrantzou, ever the celebrator of all things fancy went all out on bubble hems, eye-catching beading and embroidery in bright colours.
Grabbing eyeballs yet again with its fashion innovations, Burberry too brought back its trademark vintage brown check and plastered it on almost everything. The entire collection was a mix of classic verses street silhouettes like military coats, translucent plastic outerwear, horse-riding shirts and sheer separates.
The younger designers also did not disappoint with Richard Quinn’s bodysuits in clashing florals and Simone Rocha’s voluminous Victoriana dresses to Toga’s plastic panelling. At Mother of Pearl, a fun add-on to the brand’s beautiful garments were their ruffle-edged pillows and lush blankets that are actually a part of the brand’s new lifestyle banner.
In addition to the big runway shows in London, various brands, designers and retailers were trying to create immersive experiences that go beyond the traditional 15-minute catwalks.
For instance, Gareth Pugh’s confrontational film presentation of his new collection; Erdem’s Selfridges takeover where the designer has dressed the store in his romantic floral print for 8 weeks which will retail his fall 2017 collection along with an exclusive capsule.
Also, a one-week free exhibition was hosted at the Somerset House showcasing some of London’s biggest design hits. The exhibition not only coincided with the fashion week but also with London Design Festival, making the city a melting pot for design festivities.
Post a Comment