Finally, the third part of Emma’s blog – a recount of Sunday at LFW. This is my personal favourite day!
I knew that Day three of London Fashion Week AW15 was going to be a difficult one, SO much to choose from! SO many of my favourite designers! Who do I feature? How do I narrow down my choices? Decisions decisions! Luckily for me the early evening shows still haven’t uploaded their images, so I’m forced to split the blog in two, meaning I don’t have to miss anyone out! Yippee! So far my words of the day are Volume, Detail, Seventies, asymmetric and Intricate. The volumous shapes are a continuing theme throughout LFW as are the seventies influences, bringing the trend through both Spring Summer and Autumn Winter. This trend is seen through the fringing and the volumous maxi skirts and dresses . Alice Temperley & Preen reliably featured detailed, intricate, delicate fabrics and embroidery again hinting at the 1970’s. Asymmetric hems with and without ruffle detailing are also an emerging trend. Preen by Thornton Bregazzi featured bright prints and 3D florals, the intricate detailing of the pieces I’ve included here would normally be more indicative of Spring Summer rather than Autumn Winter, I guess Thornton Bregazzi wanted us to have a little sunshine in the darker months.
Matthew Williamson is a reliable stalwart of the red carpet, the first two looks I’ve included could easily be seen on tonight’s Oscars Red Carpet. I love the oriental influences to the colours and patterns, the seventies fringing is hinted at through the footwear but the era is truly delivered through the fur collared frock, the volumous maxi dresses and even the intricate silk and chiffon prints.
Temperley London hinted at the seventies with this velvet blazer reminiscent of one my mum had, teamed with the intricately embroidered mesh dress and scarf is a beautiful use of monochrome colouring.
More volume through the width of the trousers and the length of the tunic tops and coats, the camel and grey tone on tone looks will give height and elongate despite the volumous proportions just be careful wearing this look if you’re under 5ft 5in as it may well swamp you.
Alice also brings her red carpet worthy looks with my final two choices, I could see Angelina Jolie and Kate Hudson in these.
Amanda Wakeley had a more tailored approach to her collection, compared to the whimsical feminine looks featured by Temperley and Matthew Williamson. Again the coats and jackets are big and bold, boyfriend style even. The fringed dresses are more pert and sexy than the previous looks, slightly more rock chick than seventies.
Mary featured what can only be described as flippy flamenco style skirts crossed with a bit of Star Trek.. A bizarre description I know but see if yourself, it’s the waistband which prompts the description but there is something I really like about this piece.
I think it’s fun and different, the obvious applies that this will appeal to those with a more dramatic taste when it comes to their clothes as this really is a head turner.
But when you see the same skirt teamed with a jumper, albeit a canary yellow one the look isn’t quite as dramatic. I think it’s an interesting take on the skirt shape, let’s face it we’ve had every variation when it comes to skirt styles so it’s quite nice to have something different but have to admit I’m pleased we’re not going back to the ’80’s RaRa style.
Another lovely yellow piece is this drop waist dress, I love how Mary has taken Brocade a fabric you tend to see in really dark colours making the piece look really heavy, and used two different patterns in the same hue and used the brightest colour she could find to lift this normally gothic fabric.
Finally it wouldn’t be a Mary Katrantzou show without some prints, again Mary has taken another traditional piece like these Duffel coats and given them a fun twist with these beautiful prints. I particularly love this pink/purple one!
I was thrilled to see a move away from the mainly Seventies vibe I’ve been feeling so far through this week, when I saw the Jonathan Saunders show.
If Tom Ford channelled a boyhood love of Barberella in his SS15 show, Jonathan has gone for 1960’s Mods & Quadrophenia with his AW15 collection. I love these very simple shift style dresses and coats, each featuring a little shape at the waist and hips meaning you don’t have to be a stick insect to where them (unlike the models). I especially like the mixing of the checks and the stripes, just always be conscious of horizontal stripes on your bottom half as they will give the appearance of shorter legs and of course will widen your bum.
I can totally see these looks transferring down onto the High Street, in many outlets, or if all else fails check out your mum’s wardrobe see if there are any ’60’s beauties lurking at the back.
So what’s been your favourite show or look so far during London Fashion Week? Have you seen any trends that you think you could wear? Any that you think are totally mad and you wouldn’t possible wear it! Comment on my Facebook link or tweet me @stylissimouk
Last but by no means least, the wonderfully bonkers Vivienne Westwood Red Label Collection. While the majority was the afore mentioned mad and slightly bonkers collection, these two pieces are amazing. Probably because they hint at what made Vivienne so well known, the structured shoulders, amazing tailoring and corsetry. In my eyes Miss Westwood you will always be a living legend no matter how bizarre your rants are on social media.
Sew Lyndy-Lou 