I found this video on YouTube of a quick interview with Julien MacDonald, who’s catwalk show was set in an English Country Garden but reflected ‘under the sea’ materials and colour schemes. Vivienne Westwood also comments about coming back to England for more fashion shows – check out the video and the transcript below:
This is “Scuba Chic” – the latest in the catwalk designs. Set in an English country garden background JUlian MacDonald has revealed his latest spring/summer collection – Underwater Love.
The Welsh Designer said he got his inspiration for the designs from a deep sea diving trip to the Red Sea.
“Well all of a sudden I was diving underneath the ocean with tanks on my bank and basically I really love and got inspired by scuba suits – the suits you wear when you go diving.”
His underwater theme is shown in his bright colours, wet suit designs and outfits designed on fish scales.
“The clothes are expensive but if you got St. Tropez you want to wear very ‘expensive’ colours. The colours are very intense. There are intense reds, washed out pinks and white. White really is the new black of fashion.”
Keen to get a first glimpse of next season’s style were former spice girl Gerry Halliwell, Girls Aloud singers Sarah Harding and Nichola Roberts.
Following on with an English theme was the doyen of fashion Vivien Westwood, choosing her colours to reflect the English weather. She says she may make London Fashion Week a permenent fixture:
“I might come back to England as more and more designers are coming back to England you see.. And it makes a difference who’s there as well.”
I just read on In Style Magazine that Jean Charles de Castelbajac will be launching his diffusion collection JC/DC at London Fashion Week in September. In keeping with today’s ever decreasing gap between retailers, designers and consumers, he has launched a competition for everyday models to be part of the runway show on Friday the 17th.
He has requested that “real people” between the ages of 16-25 showcase the collection on Friday, 18th September.
Want to get involved? just email a pair of face and full-length photos and your stats to rsvpcasting@jc-de-castelbajac.com by Monday 7th September, when there will be a live casting before the models are chosen.
Last night, a central London location called the Hub saw the launch of the Ethical Fashion Forum, which I was kindly invited to attend through Pamela and Maria of My Only One. Thanks again ladies and congratulations on a truly gorgeous collection!
Guests browse through My Only One's debut collection
While enjoying a cocktail and browsing the collections, 2 other brands caught my eye: MIA “Up-cycled” clothing and LaLesso. MIA by young designer Mia Nisbet fuses recycled fabrics and traditional Malawian textiles to produce a collection that combines the richness of African textiles with western styling. Having grown up in Tanzania myself, the mixture of African patterns with old, branded Mickey Mouse t-shirts created beautiful, loose fitting dresses that were extremely well created.
MIA and LaLesso win the Fashion Innovation award
LaLesso’s use of Kenyan textiles made in consciously ethical workshops have created several jobs and a better way of life for their seamstresses, bead experts and crochet experts. Not to mention their dresses, bikinis, skirts and sarongs are vibrant, fashionable and unique.
I wish all the designers luck and hope they continue to grow and provide us with reasonably priced, truly inimitable clothing. I hope you’ll all look out for them on the high street – thanks again for the invite My Only One!
Pretty Polly boast a wide range of fashion tights, slimming tights, winter warmers, party tights and cosy socks. They’re stock can be found in several retail stores across the nation, but they are about to hit an even higher level of sophistication.
Henry Holland, the British designer famous for his bold, 80s inspired t-shirts with catchphrases such as “I’ll tell you who’s boss, Kate Moss” (Love it!) and close friend of the über-fashionable Agyness Deyn has collaborated with the hosiery brand on an exciting new collection for the brand under the label “House of Holland for Pretty Polly”.
The unique collection boasts the inimitable House of Holland style. Sheer and opaque fabrics are combined in quirky designs such as the ‘all over house’, ‘the knee pad’ and ‘the suspender’ all in a vibrant colour palette of fuchsia, lilac and turquoise as well classic black.
What does Henry Holland feel about the collection? “I feel like I have found my calling with this leg wear range – I am now in love with all things hosiery.”
I am extremely curious about the look of the designs so I’m currently trying to get my hand on some photos. Watch this space while my research continues…
Guests browse through My Only One's debut collection
MIA and LaLesso win the Fashion Innovation award