Best of London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014

I was surprised at the fact that not many designers succeeded to impress me at London Fashion Week, especially since I am an avid fan of British style. Amongst the names that showed this year, including Christopher Raeburn, Daks, House of Holland, Richard Nicoll, Mary Katrantzou and Vivienne Westwood and many more, a trifecta emerged as my favourites.

David Koma

David Koma has produced a collection that fuses contemporary architectural silhouettes and the softness of femininity. Cut-outs, asymmetrical geometry and almost-invisible sheer are details that create the collection, daringly similar to Alexander Wang, but different in the fact that the hard-edged feel is substituted for with a more approachable aesthetic and colour palette that stretches beyond monochromatic.

J.W. Anderson

J.W. Anderson has emerged as a designer who loves to play on the boundaries of wearability, often producing questionable yet loveable collections. Although this collection is quite relaxed, the artistry in most of the pieces bring a sense of tension in terms of its functionality, which is also one of its strengths. Risky organza tops, statement bow belts, origami inspired pieces and ensembles resembling the fluidity of jelly fish reflect exactly what J.W. Anderson stands for. 

Preen

Thomton Bergazzi for Preen has effectively continued the distinct modernity of the label, yet this collection is distinguishable by its lighter look. The structure and sturdiness of collections past resonate, including layered sheers and multi-faceted dresses, but the appearance of more simplistic pieces is applaudable. The colour palette is undeniably wearable, and does not overpower the minimal detailing.

Images courtesy of Fashionising

London Collections: Men, Day 2

Famous names filled the schedule for Day 2 of London Collections: Men, including J.W. Anderson, who recently collaborated with Donatella Versace to launch the revived Versus brand, the simply philosophical Margaret Howell, fashion rebels KTZ and Katie Eary and British suiting masters, Savile Row. Notable collections include Rag & Bone and legendary label, Alexander McQueen, by Sarah Burton.

Rag & Bone Spring/Summer 2014

Rag & Bone have brought to men a modest collection that sneaks in eye-catching pieces discreetly. The technological colour palette almost hides the fact that there are organic elemental prints scattered amongst the collection. Despite the clinical feel to the collection as a whole, these ensembles can be worn exuding a cool and casual personality, as Rag & Bone is famed for achieving throughout their designs. Rag & Bone may want to up their game, as many designers are achieving this look with little to no effort. What saves the collection from negative feedback is their reputation for high-quality fit and material.

Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2014

The vision of the late Alexander McQueen has been kept alive by the commendable Sarah Burton, and it continues with their latest menswear collection. The warped idea of the male silhouette and style, as envisioned by the original designer, is accentuated throughout the collection. Feminine details are apparent as they are subtle, including patent leather ballet flats, Church-inspired printed coats and skinny trousers and corseted blazers. Hints of macabre also appear, the most obvious being the moth-eaten knits and spider-web panelled sweaters. Diversifying typical menswear pieces with feminine details may not seem new, but Sarah has most likely started a more classical approach to androgyny.

TO VIEW THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF LONDON COLLECTIONS: MEN, CLICK HERE

Images courtesy of Fashionising

SUBSCRIBE

The First Screen Test

A collaboration between the punk Versace diffusion line, Versus, and renowned British fashion designer, J.W. Anderson, has been tightly wrapped for a while now. The diffusion line has been inactive for a quite a long time, and it's been interesting to think such an eccentric label such as Versus by Versace would be revived by a strictly minimal designer. But at last, the first "screen test" has been released, giving us a preview of the clothes in the collab collection and a look at the models who are going to be the faces of the collection. 

Just from the preview, hints of Donatella's influence over the design of the clothing is already noticed - the wild, hypnotic black & white print being the standout so far. The rawness of this Andy Warhol x Calvin Klein Jeans style ad is the type of advertising that is missing in the fashion industry nowadays. This type of ad allows us to relate to the people who are representing the collection and look at the clothes - without all the flash and extravagance. Here, take a look for yourself:

THE COLLECTION AND WEBSITE IS DUE FOR RELEASE ON THE 15.05.13
http://www.versusversace.com/

For a closer look at the collection, CLICK HERE
Images and videos courtesy of Models.com and Dazed Digital

Ubicouture: An elevated visual representation of Art & Fashion

Givenchy x Claude Monet

Jil Sander x Joshua Dildine

It's wonderful what you find on the reblogging haven of Tumblr. In this instance, a young man named Christos Mouchas has been discovered, who skilfully reinterprets the latest fashion collections and juxtaposes them against artworks. In turn, he has created a series of profound artworks which play on the concept of "fashion as art" and vice versa, and continually grows, on his website Ubicouture. 

J.W. Anderson x Helen Bullock

Alexander McQueen x Vasily Polenov

Prada x Salvador Dali

Maison Martin Margiela x Sterling Ruby

It's a rarity to find young talent who doesn't view fashion as a superficial means of expressing oneself, as most teenagers do, but Mr. Mouchas has proven that there are still young people who recognize fashion as an art form can be both exhibited in a gallery and worn on the street. Fashion is art we wear, and art and fashion are significantly important to each other, and Mouchas has successfully conveyed, and still conveys, this message to us all. 

Images courtesy of Trendland

To see more of Christos Mouchas's artworks including his menswear interpretations, CLICK HERE