On one of my last days (and nights) in London, I wandered around the Victorian Embankment up to Somerset House, London's venue for the Autumn/Winter 10/11 shows. Just spending time in London makes it easy to see where London-based (and many other) designers get their inspiration from! There's so many different places, people, buildings, art spaces, markets, colours, noises, influences... inspiration, that saturates the city it's no wonder British fashion is as eclectic as it is. And, a reason I love it even more, is amongst all this eccentricity and eclecticism are things that are simply plain and traditionally... British. (Burberry and its famous houndstooth check come to mind here).
Below are some of my snaps of the surrounding area- along the Embankment, then around the Strand (Monopoly references never become the norm!), and up to this little area called Covent Gardens, which had some very cool markets and performers (this is the theatre area, after all).
Skulking around the back of Somerset House... dying for a glimpse!
One of the most talked (or tweeted) about shows on the London circuit was newcomer Hakaan, a Turkish design contest winner whose show was apparently the reason French Vogue's Carine Roitfeld made the cross-channel journey. Apart from his of-the-moment figure hugging sheaths and sexy tailoring, he managed to pull Natasha Poly, Lara Stone, Anja Rubik and Natalia Vodianova for the catwalk. Not bad for a first-timer.
Other favourites of mine from London included the mash-up of prints and textures at Peter Pilotto, slinky knitwear (on some not-so slinky girls) at Mark Fast, Matthew Williamson's pairing of silky drapes and heavy layers, and cabled, knitted, pocketed... everything (include new campaign girl (woman?) Tilda Swinton) at Pringle of Scotland.
Pringle's Pockets
And, seeing as I already mentioned the supremely (dare I say original) British brand, here are my favourites from Christopher Bailey's latest collection for Burberry Prorsum. Plenty of coats for Emma Watson to model in yet another fabulous ad campaign I say. The jackets have spoken, bring on winter.
Photos: mine! and catwalking.com
No comments:
Post a Comment