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.”
We know now from London Fashion Week (and for quite some time before that) that the fashion world has a recyclable nature. It has always baffled me that I saw my mother in skinny jeans, high waist trousers, bee-eye sunglasses and the occasional quiff in her hair. And all those times I saw her, I repeatedly thought to myself that she needed some fashion guidance.
But I was wrong and mum – I’m sorry!!
Although she may not have been wearing them at the peak of their fashionable days, they were pieces that, in her eyes, were timeless – pieces that have been and will be resurrected for years to come. The question of course lies in 1) Who decides when these items come back, and 2) Why do I all of a sudden long for a heavily shouldered blazer when I didn’t about a month ago?
My investigation led me to the Wikipedia article for one James Laver. James laver was a museum curator at the Victoria & Albert as well as a pioneering fashion historian. Although he was not directly involved with the museum’s fashion exhibitions, he had an interest in dating images accurately through the clothing depicted within. He believed patterns of economic and social factors where what developed fashion tastes. So “Laver’s Law” was born, which sought to explain the fashion cycle and the general taste to a timeline. It was first published in 1937 and went as follows –
Indecent – 10 years before its time
Shameless – 5 years before its time
Daring – 1 year before its time
Smart – ‘Current Fashion’
Dowdy – 1 year after its time
Hideous – 10 years after its time
Ridiculous – 20 years after its time
Amusing – 30 years after its time
Quaint – 50 years after its time
Charming – 70 years after its time
Romantic – 100 years after its time
Beautiful – 150 years after its time
Does it work? Seems to – 70 years since the shoulder pads first appeared in Dior’s clothing, they are once again “charming”.
I’ve decided that although I can’t be at London Fashion Week (sigh), I will live vicariously through the LFW website to spot new designs, key autumn/winter pieces and generally ramble on about this year’s designers.
London Fashion Week began this weekend and the first thing to catch my eye was a young, Greek designer named Mary Katrantzou.
The gallery of her catwalk encompasses bold graphics, flattering shapes and most importantly, is very modern and stylish. Find out more about her from her profile information below and be sure to visit londonfashionweek.co.uk for all the latest news at the show.
Designer name:
Mary Katrantzou
Origin:
Athens, Greece
Design background:
Mary attended Rhode Island School of Design and then completed both her BA and MA at Central Saint Martins. She has previously worked for Sophia Kokosalaki and freelanced for Bill Blass, amongst other designers.
Name three things that are inspiring you this season:
“Vintage perfume bottles, 18th century portraits and Victor Skrebneski.”
What are your design signatures?
“A hyperrealist aesthetic, bold graphics and industrial jewellery.”
How would you describe the Mary Katrantzou woman?
“She has a liberated spirit and a strong sense of style.”
What is your most recent London discovery?
“Gordon’s Wine Bar/Cave.”
This year marks London Fashion Week’s 25th anniversary. What were you up to 25 years ago?
“I was about to be born!”
Over the last 25 years, London has built a reputation for outstandingly original fashion. What is it about the capital that makes London fashion so unique?
“It has a great energy and a fantastic support system for new designers to push forward.”
Rachel Christie, 400 metre sprinter and heptathlon specialist will trade in her running shorts & shoes for fashionable new designs at this year’s London Fashion Week.
Over 40 young designers will participate in the scheme initiated by the British Fashion Council and organisations such as the London Development Agency (LDA) and commercial sponsors.
Watch the video below to hear Rachel’s favourite boutique designers, her relaxed style, interviews with the photographers and makeup artists and (last but certainly not least) to get a sneak preview of a few of the gorgeous pieces on this year’s LFW catwalk.
