Wednesday, February 25, 2015

London Fashion Week: In Review

After moving from the luxe looks of New York City, we switched on over to the hipster scene in London. A city best known for its eccentric style and deviation from fashion rules, London featured some of the most eye-catching designer collections this season. From Christopher Bailey at Burberry Prorsum to Vivienne Westwood, London Fashion Week takes on many forms that makes it undefinable. The one thing we can agree on is that London is consistently filled with surprises on the catwalk. This year, a dominant trend in London was nature. Designers like Erdem and Antonio Berardi featured bold floral prints to lift us up during the sombre fall months. Florals for Fall? Now, that's something you don't see every day. These designers prove that seasonal dressing is overrated and that it's all about the personality. Here are five of my favourite collections from London Fashion Week that reflected my own personality.

ANTONIO BERARDI
Antonio Berardi livened up the Fall scene with bold floral prints in bright yellow on tailored dresses with skirts filled with pleats to start off his show. The collection drew in the ultra feminine British woman who aims to impress with striking colours and head-to-toe prints. One of dominant colour trends was lilac, an unusual hue for Fall that made us question our impression of seasonal colour palettes. Pink was another colour that made a dramatic appearance in a bright shade of Barbie. It appeared on classic knee-length dresses and pant suits only suitable for the fashionably inclined. The collection then took a turn for the cobalt with abstract prints on dresses and pants alike. The best part? The designer integrated the latest fashion fad: dresses over pants. Whether or not the look will sell remains to be seen, but in London, anything goes. This collection may have appeared simple at first glance, but the second half of the show proved that this man knows how to manipulate his fabrics. His final dresses were architectural and almost, origami-like, making every look stand out on its own as a statement outfit.

FAVOURITE LOOK: 10
via style.com
ISSA
This debut collection by Jamie O'Hare transformed Issa into a boho-chic selection of fringed dresses, geometric prints, and sheer panels in unusual places. It targeted the sexy bohemian woman aiming to have a little fun on the streets and assert her style savvy. The show began with some classic black and white and instantly drew me in with an edgy printed jumpsuit. Was it original? Maybe not. But it caught my eye and invited me in for more. The third look already predicted the prominence of fringe in this collection not suited for the faint of heart. There were several classic LBD's with cutouts and transparency made for a woman who owns the room. For the lady who wants to make a bigger statement? There were a wide variety of jumpsuits to choose from. The designer mixed prints with expert ease and even brought in the colour du jour: bright red (a popular Red Carpet choice). Another print that made it onto this runway was stripes. Whether on flowy dresses or loose blouses, stripes appeared in different forms, but with similar colour tones. The designer ended the show with some sparkly minis, taking the collection from daytime office chic to ladies night. I'm already picturing Poppy Delevingne in one of those black fringe dresses and look forward to seeing how she'll give it her own flavour.

FAVOURITE LOOK: 11
via style.com
DAVID KOMA
David Koma is always a show I look forward to at London Fashion Week. He consistently keep his collection sophisticated, yet edgy, with leather patches and strong colours. This season, he incorporated zippers and belts that defined the waist, making it all about the metal additions. He managed to keep the collection feminine with flared skirts in the ever-popular leather. Though he kept the collection basic with classic black and even some nude, there were other colours such as orange and cobalt that made an appearance, keeping it fresh and bold. The designer gave his collection some added sex appeal with mesh netting and cutouts at the waistline. Though he maintained the structured appeal of his label, he also increased its sensuality with slits and minis. It was a new take for David Koma, but I was nonetheless impressed and attracted to a number of pieces in the collection.

FAVOURITE LOOK: 2
via style.com
HOLLY FULTON
This Holly Fulton collection had a vintage feel that triggered the nostalgia we're all feeling in the current generation. It began with a luxurious white fur coat, reminiscent of a day when this was what we wore in the winter time and parkas did not exist. There was a strong feminine aura in this collection dominated by skirts and slip dresses. A floral theme was also present in this collection but in the cuts and shapes of the pretty pastel blouses on the runway. Pink, green, and red were the colours that appeared most throughout the show on furs and leathers. Though it was very girly, the collection had a good girl gone bad edge and perhaps even a sprinkle of Cher Horowitz in it. Every look was different but had one thing in common: a strong character.

FAVOURITE LOOK: 11
via style.com
TOPSHOP UNIQUE
Topshop is one of my favourite British brands and this collection reminded me why. With bulky fur coats, hints of leather, and its signature plaid print, this collection had so many interesting pieces to make it a memorable one. It was for the effortlessly cool downtown London chick (think Cara Delevingne) stopping cars on the streets with her bold style choices. Once again, nature took on a form in this collection on dresses and blouses in earth tones like tan and dark green. The party girl came out with slinky mini dresses, particularly of the furry variety for the modern lady. The collection's 70s undertones were evident throughout with matching suits flared pants, but with a glam twist. It was the epitome of London and that's exactly what it was aiming for.

FAVOURITE LOOK: 11
via style.com
Which of London's collections was your favourite? 

Ponder it,

XOXO,

Bella


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