Michael van der Ham Spring/Summer 2015

I was invited to the Topshop showspace to see Michael van der Ham SS15 collection. I was really excited as I have never been to the Topshop showspace before. It was really cool they had a little cafe with the food and drinks branded with Topshop labels and a beauty area where make-up artists could provide last minute touches to your look.

 

The best way to describe Michael van der Ham collect is luxe pop art. Instead of having patterns printed directly onto a garment they were appliquéd on and hand beaded with lots of pearls. The colours are almost mucky running into one another creating a very calming summer feel. My favourite garment is the odd looking skirt in the fourth image, It almost looks like two skirts cut in half and some how attached together again. 

The catwalk was so long! Most catwalks are half the size if that...I think I counted 18 models on the catwalk at once!

London Fashion Week - Day 1

Jean – Pierre Braganza Spring/Summer 2015

I was lucky enough to get tickets to see Jean – Pierre Braganza catwalk show. There was a very impressive celebrity turn out from Made in Chelsea cast to the Little Miss members.

He describes his collection as “exploring the accidental elegance of industrial design and abstract expressionism, the point where randomness and consideration intersect.” To be honest I have no clue what he is talking about but his collect is definitely random.

The show started off with a series of geometric colour-block garments with a sporty feel to them. The collection was almost entirely monochrome with hints of pink, purple and blue.  A mixture of prints also appeared in the collection with pleated garments the resembled folded napkins.  

The Highlights:

The crush velvet quilted jacket is definitely my favourite piece. It actually looked more purple on the catwalk.

See the rest of his collection here.. 

Daniela Barros and João Melo Costa SS15

Daniela Barros collection had some really nice elements. 

She uses a lot of layering in her designs mixing chiffon fabric 

with opaque fabric and uses a lot of interesting fastenings 
and cut-outs. I definitely think she a designer to watch out for!

Watch Daniela Barros SS15 show here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwulgWV9P7E 

I did not think much of Joao Melo Costa collection. It was literally pieces of tissue and wrapping paper thrown onto models

and stuck down, like a child playing dress up.

But anyway you can take a look for yourself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r19l7sGH1Vo

Sports Lux & The Fabric Of The Moment: Neoprene

One of the major players in the SPORTS LUX trend is neoprene fabric. In case you don't know what that is... the fabric is generally use for wetsuits the thing you wear if you would go rafting. As the fabric is often padded out with foam creating its thickness I am sure will see more of it on the catwalk for the September autumn/winter collections. If you want to get ahead of the curve I've created an affordable buyers high street guide...

I keep on seeing Clover Canyon name pop up everywhere her whole summer 2014 collection was made out of printed neoprene and is around the £200 price mark. The prints remind me of Mary Katrantzou and Peter Pilotto. The strip and neoprene are the perfect mix for the sport lux trend. For a special occasion its not such a bad price to invest your money it!

Central Saint Martins BA SS15 - Graduate Class of 2014

My favourite fashion designers of CSM graduates:

1. Richard Quinn:
His collection was inspired by things that rip and tear. He started of his research by defacing old couture imagery, tearing L'official photocopies in half and glueing them together to create new garments. His collection almost takes the mickey of couture. One reported even named his collection cracked couture!

All the garments besides the jacket are made from calico and hand painted straight on made up dress like an artist with a canvases.

There is a great interviw with Richard Quinn here:
http://1granary.com/central-saint-martins-fashion/ba-final-collections/richard-quinn/

2. Daisy Collingridge
Daisy Collingridge collection reminisce childhood bedtime with cosy quilts, pillows, slippers and stuff teddy bears. Weirdly though she claims here inspiration cam from visiting fames and seeing the quitted rugs places underneath saddles on horse. Anyway it created a beautiful collection!

3. Quoi Alexander
Alexander silhouettes were woven with a tribal vibe. The collection was inspired by the work of artist Xu Bing who created beautiful books and scroll written in what look like Chinese writing but when examined closely one realise it doesn't have any deeper meaning. This translated to highly detailed garments without a particular theme. 

There is a great interview with Quoi Alexander here:
http://www.fashioneditoratlarge.com/2014/06/quoi-alexander-csm-class-of-2014/

Graduate Fashion Week Roundup 2014

Even though I didn't like the new location of Graduate Fashion Week in The Old Truman Brewery it was to much of a maze with no window and felt a lot more crowded then Earls Court however the talent was most impressive. 

These were my favourite graduate collections

Atosa Nikkhah – Northbrook College

Atosa Nikkhah collect was probably most on trend with the ART SCHOOL TREND inspired by the likes of Chanel, Prada, Celine, and Calvin Klein.      
Claudio Cutugno - IED (International)

Claudio Cutugno collection had a dark knight vader feel to it with a some what sophisticated twisted.  

  

Kimberely Blackburn - University of Central Lancashire

A textual tribal collection was another show stopper. 

Rebecca Damla Saygi- Nottingham Trent

Rebecca Damla Saygi brought her collection to new dimensions. Not only were 3D glasses used as an accessory in her collect but they also made the print three dimensional. Everyone in the audience were given a pair so the clothes literally jumped out at them. I was really surprised she didn't win anything or didn't even get into the gala show as her collect is so original and still authentically pleasing.  

 

Grace Weller - Bath Spa University

Winner George Gold Award & Womenwear Award 

Rebecca Rimmer - Runner up for the George Gold Award 

Image Source: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images Europe 

Fashion Week - Bits & Bobs...

Emma Cook: Fall 2014 Ready-to-Wear Concept Film

Emma Cook successfully relaunch her label in 2011 replacing the catwalk with more commercially viable clothes and price-point. Her latest collection is inspired by a travelling circus which is easily seen through the dizzying patterns and colour choices. 

I think this campaign video is the perfect combination of fun, inspiring images that stay true to Emma Cook concept. Plus it reminds me of Marry Poppins when they all jump into the painting so one can never go wrong with a classic reference here and there!  

My favourite upcoming designer... Delpozo
The madrid-based label has a futuristic yet classic and minimalistic fell to the brand. It reminds me of COS with a more original and exciting outlook on design. 

A/W 2013

S/S 2014

A/W 2014

The show we all wanted to be at...
Chanel A/W 2014 created there very own supermarket all label with Chanel name or logo. The audience themselves where so enticed that they couldn't help walking around the catwalk and looking at all the different labelled products and of course taking selfies. It took almost an hour just to get everyone to sit down!

London Fashion Week - Events Open to the Public

As you all should know it this time of year again... LFW baby! And if you don't work for the industry there is no need to get depressed because there are plenty of free events open to the generally public which I hope to see you all there!

Starting off is:
Off Strand - An off schedule showcase and sample sales during LFW for upcoming clothes, jewellery and accessories designers located in Hoxton Gallery. Anyone can turn up and will be able to meet the designers and preview their AW14/15 collection  as well as being able to purchase the designers previous collections!  

OPENING TIMES:

-SATURDAY 15TH: 10AM - 10PM

Late night on Saturday 6:30PM - 10PM with DJ drinks and live performance

-SUNDAY 16TH: 10AM - 8PM

More information about the event and each designer is available on their website: http://offstrand.tumblr.com/

Boxpark - Is a pop-up based in East London in walking distance of Hoxton Gallery. Fill with quirky fashion and lifestyle brands, galleries and cafes. Bringing fashion back to the street. A definite must see if your in the area!

2-4 Bethnal Green Road London, E1 6GY