aestheticcontradiction

LFW A/W 14 PART 3, Ones to watch

Ones to watch is one of my favourite shows. I love seeing designers with a fresh perspective and also enjoy the fact that there are multiple designers in one show. I always love variety and it’s a lot more convenient than having to go outside a queue again before being allowed in to see the next show.

The “ones to watch” showcase comprised of 4 designers’ collections and I have chosen my two favourites to feature on here.

sarah ryanFirst up is Sarah Ryan. I suppose this is quite a predictable choice for me, as I love monochrome, texture and attention to detail.

Sarah Ryan’s primary interests lie in the marriage of the extraordinary & the functional, using adverse textiles and materials to create an informed & intriguing silhouette.

Her collection ‘Auryn’, had a nomadic, utilitarian feel, heavily featuring multi-textured blacks and over-sized bags.

The most intriguing and aesthetically pleasing aspect of the collection was definitely the woven leather accessories, which I had the pleasure of seeing up close in the show room. I love the use of different weaving techniques and the way they look organic and structured at the same time.

sarahryandetails

GEORGE STYLERThe second collection I chose to feature is by George Styler. It was definitely the most vibrant and colourful range of the season.

Serbian designer, George Styler graduated from the college of textile design in Belgrade. His style has previously been described as “World Ethno” and I can definitely see why.

His high-impact designs featured a variety of bold colours and sparkling embellishments in Russian-inspired motifs and 3D flower patterns.

He has successfully mixed elements of traditional garments with a playful, cyber princess vibe, creating a memorable and intriguing collection.

The hair and make up was the same for all the “ones to watch” shows but Styler transformed the models using intricately braided head pieces. Hair and make up is often a key part of the look and as a designer myself I understand the importance of making sure it complements the garments and reinforces your vision.

What I wore:a15

Thanks to Toria for the pic.

I loved this outfit but it was such a busy day I didn’t have time to get a full length photo, maybe next time.

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LFW 14 Part 2, inspiration.

Being in London already, I thought it would be a good opportunity to visit Berwick street and some of the fabric shops I used to frequent while at university. I’m showing at Manchester Fashion Week in April and I want to include some of my non-latex pieces in the show.

I haven’t been for a while and I noticed a couple of new additions to the row of shops, but my favourites remain the same.

light leathersleathers darkMisan had a great range of both natural and artificial leathers in various textures and colour combinations that I found really inspiring. I’m really into textures and juxtaposition this season so I’d love to be able to add some of these into my collection but aside from the fact that they are probably slightly out of budget, it’s also really hard to determine whether they are ethically sourced.

IMG_4894The cloth house is always great for jersey and knitted fabrics, there were at least 5 I’d love to add to my range but I’ve decided to keep it as simple as possible this time and focus more on the fabric story next year.

lightfabricsI also spotted this long pile, grey faux fur and light textured fabrics in the second Misan shop, further down the road. Faux fur is quite new to me as I’ve only recently decided it can look good. I love the feel and colour of this one but I’m not convinced on the price so I’m going to shop around a bit longer.

We finished off the expedition with a trip to Covent garden to visit my favourite tea shop, the tea house, (I love trying new flavours and also find it quite inspiring as I drink it while I work), and the astrology shop where I browsed scented oils and bought gem stone rings.

photo 3 bb657d129f3e11e3b8cd1227d7fa1b14_8I bought two rings, one in opalite and one in faceted hematite. I think they go with my other “every day” rings and hopefully won’t discolour or irritate my hands. I was particularly happy because it only cost me £3 for the pair!

Hematite is a particularly good one for me to wear as it is said to counteract the negative effects the computer has on your energy body.

photo 2I decided to swap them round in the end and now wear them so the opalite and moon stone aren’t next to each other. I will take a better picture, without the gloves when I get the chance.

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London fashion week AW 14/15 PART 1.

I’ve just returned from my trip to LFW and will be sharing this season’s experiences with you in diary style posts. I have decided to present our adventures in 3 parts to keep them short, sweet and interesting.

The night before we left was stormy and there was a brief moment when it seemed like we weren’t going to be able to make it down, but by the morning trains were running again and we arrived in London with just 20 minutes behind schedule.

Our first stop was Lucinda Sinclair’s studio where the Vauhaus girls shot for Sanctus on a windy roof top.

bts1Left to right: Amber, myself, Lucinda, Toria and Hazel.

I shot for one of their previous lines about a year ago and you can see the shoot here but it was nice to get the opportunity to meet Lucinda in person and hang out.

The next morning we headed to our first show all together. It was raining. I found myself wishing I’d brought a selection of outerwear so my street-style photos didn’t all end up looking the same but alas, my suitcase was heavy enough already.

My outfit:

wall1wall3wall2Hat: Asos, Shirt: H&M, lace blazer: Ebay, pleated maxi skirt: Jane Norman, quartz necklace: handmade, feather necklace: Richard Ayres, body jewellery: Bodyjewelleryshop.com

Thanks to Amber for the pics.

Our first show of the season was Jaime Wei Huang. The young designer presented a modern collection with many contrasting elements but a sleek, consistent feel. She was inspired by the film “the Pianist” and specifically the characters behind the refugees.

jaime wei huangOpposites really inspire me in general so I’m always happy to see a collection with juxtaposing features. Huang mixed heavy and light fabrics, utilitarian features with classic silhouettes and masculine shapes on the female form.

The mood of the show was quite sombre and the models walked quietly and spaced out, allowing viewers to take a good look at the garments but maybe also the character beneath, perhaps a glimmer of the of the refugee’s pre-war identity .

Key features such as the trapper hats, oversized funnel collars and thick buckled straps recreate the resourcefulness of war and show how necessity can form fashion statements.

P1010186-1024x902A lot of the pieces in this collection are highly wearable and would make practical but eye-catching wardrobe staples. My personal favourites are the textured leather gillette and the black jacket.

After the show, I also got the chance to briefly meet Pandemonia Panacea and snowy.

1780799_589915891085833_1269690304_nHere’s the whole team and what we wore.

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Current Obsessions #25

current obsessions #25This week, I’m trying to decide what shade I actually want my hair to be. I’m inspired by mysticism, nature and monochrome textures. I’m looking forward to having a few days where doing my make up properly is actually important during fashion week. I find it counter-productive to bother with every day as it cuts into my working time and isn’t great for my skin anyway.

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