Author Archives: Sophie Estelle

Fashion International

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Fashion International is an event that champions up and coming labels and gives a platform to young talent. It is held every fashion week along side the more established designers

 

This year the show was held at Charing Cross Hotel in Holborn. Press and buyers were seated in the suite around a circular catwalk in the Betjeman Suite. The designers showing this year for the SS14 show the designers were Wajahat Mirza, AGA, Yuvna Kim ,Dee Duce and Gianni Lilliu.

The designer who really stood out from the crowd was Yuvna Kim. Her esquiste evening gowns, which caused the audience to gasp, are beautifully made and are embroidered with crystals,beads and pearls. What was so special about this collection was not only the way it was made, but that the fabrics were sheer leaving the models half naked,revealing their bodies under neither or nude underwear. This could have gone horribly wrong, but Kim manages to make the dresses elegant, sophisticated and sexy all at the same time.

Dress by Yuvna Kim

Dress by Yuvna Kim

 

Dress by Yuvna Kim

Dress by Yuvna Kim

 

Dress by Yuvna Kim

Dress by Yuvna Kim

 

Dress by Yuvna Kim

Other favorite looks were from Gianni Lilliu collection , which celebrates the female for and draws from the sculpt David Begbie’s studies of steel and bronze mesh. In particular a  gold and black baby dolls dress stood out, as well as the silhouettes and clean lines he managed to create with some great fabrics and materials throughout the collection.

Dress by Gianni Lilliu

Dress by Gianni Lilliu

 

Playsuit by Gianni Lilliu

Playsuit by Gianni Lilliu

 

Dress by Gianni Lilliu

Dress by Gianni Lilliu

 

Dress by Gianni Lilliu

Dress by Gianni Lilliu

Wajahat Mirza’s collection which was based on exotic birds also had some beautiful colourful and wearable evening gowns.

Dress by Majahat a]
photo-9
Sadly the thing that let down the show was the some of the too skinny models, which not only is a bad image to promote in the first place but it ruined the effect of the clothes, and instead of falling of the body as evening wear should it hung of them and didn’t show the clothes to their highest potential.
It is always good to see an events that champions young designers and Fashion International does it very well, putting on exiting events where the audience has a chance to mingle, meet the desingers and see some of the looks up close after the show over a glass of champagne.
Find out more about Fashion International here:
http://www.fashioninternational.co.uk

Picks from the Somerset House Exhibitions

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The exhibitions at Somerset House showcase the newest designers in jewellery, millinery, footwear and  the latest in contemporary women’s wear for press and buyers.

The exhibitions are one of the best  parts of fashion week. There is the chance to meet designers, see the collections up close and discover new talent. There is the eccentric, the sophisticated and the truly weird and wonderful, all in one place.
Frost  has picked a few favourites and ones to watch from this year so far…
JENA.THEO
Contemporary Womenswear designer
Founders Jenny Holmes and Dimitris Theocharidis offer luxury garments in  jerseys, silks and leather,and a great selection of denim pieces.The clothes cater and flatten women of all sizes and the collection features a number of great prints. A personal favourite is a fun shirt and trouser look printed with a skeleton.
Jena. Theo

Jena. Theo

image (1)

LUKE BROOKS
Luke Brooks is a CSM MA graduate collection features in this years Ones To Watch Section. His works are a selection of garments which are printed with rubbing he has taken from Graves Stones in  New England, USA, which had been carved by the early settlers (late 17th and 18th century stones).  The pieces are thought provoking and beautiful and the print work brilliantly with the shapes of the clothes and the lines of the body. This collection is truly unique and Frost looks forward to Luke Brooks next collection!
  Luke Brooks
HALO &CO
Jewellery
Halo & Co are exhibiting for the first time this fashion week.
They are a fun colourful brand with some innovative and exiting designs. The neck and shoulder piece decorate with gold elephants is completely unique and unlike any pieces of jewellery Frost has seen before.
Halo&Co
JACOB KIMMIE (Bathos)
Contemporary Womenswear
Jacob Kimmie collection Bathos is second in a trilogy of libertine works. There is emphasis on ‘eroticism, classicism and the ostentatious’. On walking into the room Frost was drawing to the rich colouring of the garments as well as the exiting and innovative pattern cutting techniques used. This is a truly beautiful brand and defiantly worth checking out.
SUMARIE
Couture Swimwear
Sumarie is a couture swimwear brand. The pieces are simple, sexy and elegant and if your looking for swimwear that is a little bit special this is the place to look.
submarie

Adam Andrascik Spring Summer 2013

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“the collection draws it’s inspiration from the couture shapes of the 1960’s , combined with an ongoing fascination with the work of Lucio Fontana’s ‘slashed’ canvases, and the development of textile techniques and finishing unique to the label.’

On Tuesday morning I headed over to see Adam Andrascik round the corner from Somerset House. The shows was held in a room with the models standing around its edges so the audience could walk up, take photos, admire the clothes and drink champagne!

Sadly, this was the time my camera chose to run out, so I had to make some quick sketched of the collection to give an idea….

The collection made up of clean, elegant clothing. Shirts and A-line skirts featured in a futuristic but feminine a style, as we have seen in a lot of shows over this S/S13.

Classic shapes and silhouettes at the front of the garments give way to bellowing sheer fabric at the back, creating a twist to familiar cuts.

Shiny and sheer fabrics mixed together to create each look. This, combined with the models swept back hair, dark eyebrows and clean make up created a futuristic and alien feel.

Adam Andrascik S/S13 collection, is beautiful, wearable and sophisticated. Perfect for the modern day woman.

http://adamandrascik.com/

Fashion Fringe. Final Show London Fashion Week S/S13

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The finale to London Fashion Week S/S13 was Fashion Fringe, a platform set up to help young design talent to display their collection.

As a design student myself I am always glad to see young designers being helped by those already established in the industry, and i know and appreciate how much work and dedication goes into making a collection and starting up a business.

For Fashion Fringe ten young designers are chosen from thousands and those ten are then whittled down to three. The winner is then announced at the end of the show.

This years finalists were Haizhen Wang, by Haizhen Wang, a graduate from Central Saint Martins who has previously worked for Max Mara, Boudicca and All saints before establishing his own label in 2010. Wangs S/S13 collection is inspired by architect Santigo Calatrava and Japanese amour. It featured precise lines and had echos of both femininity and masculinity. 3D digital printing was also used on the collection adding a futurist feel to his work.

Teija by Teija Eilola. Eilola, a graduate for RCA and previously head of women’s wear at Ted Baker. Her S/S13 collection “All that is Solid” was feminine and sophisticated with soft, earthy colours and luxurious fabrics swishing down the catwalk. The trench coats and outwear had exiting cuts and shapes with with large silhouetted sleeves. Personally this was my favourite collection and I loved the contrasted use of draping mixed with pattern cutting.

Vita Gottlieb, by Vita Gottlieb, a Fine Art Graduate from Central Saint Martins set up her label in 2012. You could never tell but she has no formal fashion training and has instead taught herself.  Her Fashion Fringe S/S13 collection is entitled “The night garden” and is an explosion of cultures and textures coming together, with interesting silhouettes  and bright colours making her collection stand out. With amazing fabrics and shapes Gottlieb’s collection is truly unique and beautiful.

As the last show of S/S13 there was a sense of excitement in the air and as the show ended everyone waited with baited breath for the winner to be announced. Each designer was so different and each collection so powerful it would a hard decision to make.

This year Christopher Bailey, Chief Creative Office of Burberry was judge of the competition and presented the awards.

In the end he chose Haizhen Wang collection. As Wang came on to collect his trophy, made by jewellery designer Jessica McCormack, it was clear as he lifted the trophy over his head in triumph how ecstatic and happy he was to have won.

It was a lovely end to a great fashion week, with everyone looking forward into the future for new young talent and a whole new generation of designers.

Swedish School Of Textiles Graduate Show

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Luna Sky S/S13

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Sunday night in the Westbury Hotel in Mayfair the catwalk was strewn with petals for the showing of Luna Skys S/S13 collection. Luna Sky is a London based designer who creates red carpet pieces for the “modern elegant women”

Never having heard of the designer before, I was interested to see what we would be treated to. In the description of the collections that awaited us on our seats, Swarovski crystals and sequins were mentioned and, having never been a fan of either I have to admit I was a little skeptical. However as the lights went down and the first model walked slowly down the catwalk i have to say I was impressed

Each dress was elegant, well made and feminine. From hem lines that scraped the knee, to full blow trains embroidered with petals and crystals each dress was red carpet worthy and reminiscent of American prom style dresses.

The models one at a time dream like floating down the catwalk their hair swept back, make up minimal and elegant. The colour pallet ranged fromsSoft blues to greens and yellows.

Finishing touches completed the look, for example matching floral pom pom shoes  added a  cute twist, and strings of crystals and delicate material flowers wrapped themselves around the models wrists.

A particular favourite was a one shoulder number in light blue which came down the the thigh, over the top of the skirt was a see through train which sashayed down the catwalk creating a young yet sophisticated look.

It was refreshing to see a catwalk show done slowly one model at the time and it felt as if the audience had been taken back to a private viewing in the 1950’s.

Afterward having a post show drink with a friend in a bar I ran into one of the models Chloe Woollcott who had come down from the Scottish Island of Rothesay to model for Luna Sky. She herself enjoyed modeling the collection and found them well fitting, (despite some of the dresses and heels being a little hard to walk down a catwalk in) . She stood out , looking lovely in the crowded bar with her 50’s vibe  hair and make up still in place from the show.

Luna Sky’s collection is defiantly a must for any young woman who wants to look and feel like a princess!

 

http://www.lunaskymoda.co.uk/

 

Photo: Alexander Cook

Accessories Showcase: Katie Rowland ‘Ishtar’ S/S13 and more

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I headed over to the Canon Cinema at Somerset House on Monday to view the Fashion Films playing inside.

Mondays features was an accessories showcase staring Katie Rowlands ‘Ishtar’ S/S13 film. It was a short advert of a tattooed girl running through an old building, body adorned with the collection. The pieces were edgy and sexy with Egyptian style headdresses and armlets added something a little bit different.

Everything in the video I would have worn myself and Katie Rowland is defiantly a great brand for young women looking for some exiting, modern jewellery. However it would have been nice to see more as the film itself was quite short, so a trip to Liberty’s to check out the collection is defiantly in order!

http://www.katie-rowland.com/

 

Other designers showcasing short films were Zoe Lee, a British shoe designer of whose collection turned out to be cool, fun and funky. Previously tutored by Manolo Blanhik, in January 2012 this year she launched her own collection of luxury woman’s shoes. Zoe Lee clad feet were seen dancing and walking, each shoe having its own name and  personality. Really enjoyed watching this video as the brand was portrayed well and each shoe shown clearly. Will be purchasing a pair of Zoe Lee shoes as soon as S/S13 hits the shops!

http://zoelee.co.uk/home/

 

My favorite short film, which made me laugh was the Mawi “Heiress” video which marks a 10 year landmark for the London based brand.

The film shows a young woman sitting at a dinner table, dressed up as if for a party. Her butler brings over her first dish and she begins to eat.

The camera zooms in on what is thought to be a just a plate of soup, but it turns out a pair of earring is floating inside. Dish after dish is brought out, necklaces in the main course, bracelets in the jelly. The woman goes on the eat each piece of the collection ignoring the food entirely.

The Jewellery itself is luxurious but would be perfect for a younger woman as they were not too over the top or extravagant.  Each piece is modern and elegant and would be perfect for a dinner party or event.

Check out the past collections bellow

http://www.mawi.co.uk/

Although I much prefer a good old catwalk show, the Canon Cinema is a good place for small brands to get across their brand aesthetic and portray a mood or feel. It was also nice to sit in the dark away from the hustle and bustle of Somerset House and kick back and relax.

Trends: Prints S/S13

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After reading up on the London Fashion Week Shows  taking place over the last few days , it soon because clear there was a Not To Be Missed trend hitting our wardrobes this season!

Prints have dominated the catwalk at this year LFW S/S13 shows so much so that I was inspired to go and grab myself a floral print pair of trousers from H & M on my way home!

They were seen at Matthew Williamson though a range of printing styles from blue, purple geometric designs to delicate green tree prints, reminiscent of oriental gardens.

Preen by Thornton Bregazzi showcased monochrome reptilian prints while Peter Pilotto’s creative explosion of their usual bold coloured prints intermixed with monochrome were seen on strait cut trousers and knee length skirts.

A personal favorite was Mary Katrantzou full print looks, inspired by bank notes and postage stamps, which adorned the collection from maxi dresses to trouser top combination.

Not only on the catwalk could prints be seen everywhere, floral to ethnic prints were flaunted around somerset house by blogger, models, designers and the press.

So if there’s one thing to be buying in bulk this season it’s something printed.