Showing posts with label designer spotlight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label designer spotlight. Show all posts
HOW NICE FOR YOU
I'm trying to take my style (and this site) in a new direction - and thank God Magenta 8 just sent me a some pics of their new collection. The garments are everything I'm looking for at the moment - well tailored, chic and clean with precise, sophisticated lines. So nice - and weird I haven't heard of this brand before - Apparently it was started by a Peruvian designer called Giovanna Velasquez.
I would love to get my hands on some of the cropped jackets and short capes to style as day looks - I highly recommend having a look at the website.
YOU FIRST
Blogging has introduced me to some seriously talented London designers I'd never have heard of otherwise. Goodone. Kayinsola Onalaja. Zed Eye. And on FRIDAY NIGHT! I found another.
Yolande Letshou was kind enough to invite me to La Geneve North's Summer Catwalk Show and I was really excited to see what talent she and her team had found to present. The cool thing about LGN's events is that each one gives you a variety of designers. Fashion shows are actually quite short - even the grandest couture show only lasts 15 minutes. Not so with LGN. We got a proper show - a 10 designer presentation that ran the entire gamut of ready-to-wear, evening gowns, handbags, conceptual fashion and even a performance piece showcasing convertible custom made designs.
However, when the dust settled and the curtain closed, Rose Willis stood head and shoulders above the other designers. I get a young Barbara Hulianicki vibe from her line - Rose Willis - which she designs and produces from a garden studio in Surrey (an analogy for those who aren't familiar: Connecticut is to New York as Surrey is to London). She's currently got two collections going - her S/S11 line, and another she expressly designed and produced for the LGN summer show. And I WANT IT ALL. First images below.
Yolande Letshou was kind enough to invite me to La Geneve North's Summer Catwalk Show and I was really excited to see what talent she and her team had found to present. The cool thing about LGN's events is that each one gives you a variety of designers. Fashion shows are actually quite short - even the grandest couture show only lasts 15 minutes. Not so with LGN. We got a proper show - a 10 designer presentation that ran the entire gamut of ready-to-wear, evening gowns, handbags, conceptual fashion and even a performance piece showcasing convertible custom made designs.
However, when the dust settled and the curtain closed, Rose Willis stood head and shoulders above the other designers. I get a young Barbara Hulianicki vibe from her line - Rose Willis - which she designs and produces from a garden studio in Surrey (an analogy for those who aren't familiar: Connecticut is to New York as Surrey is to London). She's currently got two collections going - her S/S11 line, and another she expressly designed and produced for the LGN summer show. And I WANT IT ALL. First images below.
Stunning stuff. More images to come when my digital camera gets its life together and decides to cooperate.
Anyway, thanks so much to Yolande and the team at La Geneve North for inviting me out, I can't wait to see what you come up with next...!
{Clothing images and info from www.rosewillis.co.uk}
PS: I was on my way back from the show, which was in Central London, when I turned a corner and saw the Spirit of Soho mural. If you look closely you can see St Anne, Karl Marx, Mozart, Dylan Thomas and George Melly, and as much as I've walked around that area, I'd never seen it before. Kind of matches Rose's summer collection..
THERE'S ONLY ROOM FOR ONE AND HERE I COME, HERE I COME
I was in a bad mood last week, so I boogied on down to House of Fraser to see if I couldn't sort myself out.
As you may know, Biba recently launched a comeback collection which is available only at House of Fraser. I'm a fan of the original line, and I attended the launch of designer Barbara Hulanicki's line with Topshop (I was in the same building as Barbara Hulanicki! I think that makes me a winner).
So anyway, for a variety of reasons, I wanted to see what the new collection was like. It has a "Gossip Girl" sort of luxe and modern marketing strategy, and in a way I thought that was a misstep. A lot of the dresses and tops look like luxurious versions of New Look's winter party dress selection. And I'd rather buy three New Look dresses and get them tailored to fit me rather than one Biba dress that won't be in style next season.
However, certain items really stood out, like the tailored pieces and outerwear. You can't fake the fit of a good blazer, and I was quite impressed by the workmanship of the feathered capes and sequinned boleros. I'd definitely wear these pieces for years so, I were to invest in an authentic Biba, I'd probably go down the outerwear route. Here are some of my favourites:
[Today's title is a modification of a David Bowie lyric from his song: "Suffragette City", included below]
[all images from houseoffraser.co.uk]
As you may know, Biba recently launched a comeback collection which is available only at House of Fraser. I'm a fan of the original line, and I attended the launch of designer Barbara Hulanicki's line with Topshop (I was in the same building as Barbara Hulanicki! I think that makes me a winner).
So anyway, for a variety of reasons, I wanted to see what the new collection was like. It has a "Gossip Girl" sort of luxe and modern marketing strategy, and in a way I thought that was a misstep. A lot of the dresses and tops look like luxurious versions of New Look's winter party dress selection. And I'd rather buy three New Look dresses and get them tailored to fit me rather than one Biba dress that won't be in style next season.
However, certain items really stood out, like the tailored pieces and outerwear. You can't fake the fit of a good blazer, and I was quite impressed by the workmanship of the feathered capes and sequinned boleros. I'd definitely wear these pieces for years so, I were to invest in an authentic Biba, I'd probably go down the outerwear route. Here are some of my favourites:
[Today's title is a modification of a David Bowie lyric from his song: "Suffragette City", included below]
VOTE FOR SANTA
Epice earrings and bracelet from Danish brand Black Lily Accessories, F/W 2010. Nice one!
[This posts's title was inspired by Russell from So You Think You Can Dance Season 6. He did a krumping solo dressed as Santa. Nice one.
Here's another solo by Stephen 'Twitch' Boss from SYTYCD season 4 that gives me the fever and the chills. Twitch was inspired to do this solo by an Ernie Barnes painting called The Maestro, which is above the solo video. Nice one!]
[photos from blacklily.dk & itsablackthang.com]
DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: KANYINSOLA ONALAJA
At this year's Young Designer Show 2010, I got the chance to meet the doe-eyed, soft spoken Kanyinsola Onalaja. She presented one of the most striking collections of the evening, and was actually the winner of the 2009 Designer of the Year Award from the YDS.
I invited her out for coffee to learn more about her... and get a closer look at her fantastic clothes.
(avante garde model and wearable Kanyinsola)
One of the first things I learned is ... Kanyinsola's only 17. That's right -- she's still a student and constructs clothing in her free time. (jealous face) Kayinsola says she learned the traditional Nigerian tie-dye technique she uses from her mom, a woman with both a modern sensibility and a love of her native country.
Here's the scoop: The garments she makes are hand-dyed raw silk, detailed with paint and crystal applique. I must say, these dresses are extremely well constructed. I looked at the seams, turned them inside out, held them up, examined the hems - and they're impeccably finished and fall perfectly on the body. Somehow, she's made tie dye wearable and chic. I kept thinking, "office, brunch, drinks, beach" while ticking the garments off in my head. Every piece is both appropriate and adventurous - a notoriously hard balance to strike! Here are some images from her lookbook:
Office!
Drinks!
Beach!
I asked her Kanyinsola what was next for her (besides finishing her A-levels). She said she wants to work with nudes, branch into accessories, and begin taking private orders for customised garments. (At that point, I double checked to make sure she had my number...) Though it must be obvious at this point, I think she's a fantastic, professional designer and a very sweet person with a bright future.
To get in touch with Kanyinsola, email her at: konalaja@aol.com
2010 FDC YOUNG DESIGNER SHOW
Maria and I went out again last Saturday looking for unknown talented designers, and we ended up at the Young Designer Show 2010. It's a really unique event that showcases up and coming multicultural designers who have excelled creatively and academically. I've included my favourites in this post - it's a very pic-heavy post, so get ready for it...
THE MODELS
I was blown away by how beautiful the models were, and kind of dissapointed that I haven't seen them anywhere else. Some of them definitely should be all over the place and I can't figure out why they're not... hmmmmm (the first model pictured here was our host Annaliese Dayes from Britain's Next Top Model)
I was blown away by how beautiful the models were, and kind of dissapointed that I haven't seen them anywhere else. Some of them definitely should be all over the place and I can't figure out why they're not... hmmmmm (the first model pictured here was our host Annaliese Dayes from Britain's Next Top Model)
THE DESIGNERS (in order presented)
MAKEDA GETACHEW
This collection made me want to listen to M.I.A. - the vibe was really urban and crisp. My favourites were the simple one-pieces with small rosette cloth details.
This collection featured lots of exaggerated panels to accentuate curves, and was inspired by DNA's double helix wrapped around the body.
LEEANNE RIPLEY-GARRETT
Leeanne Ripley-Garrett (yep, she was at the La Geneve North Event too!) won the category of Raducical Designer. She put on the most amazing show, and was so humble.
KANYINSOLA ONALAJA
I was SO excited about this designer - how does she make tie-dye so classy?! I could see myself wearing these garments.
LEANDA BOATSWAIN
Leanda was inspired by calm Caribbean beaches, and I loved her direction. Breezy, Halston-esque, minimal and cool.
GBEMISOLA OKUNLOLA
The idea behind this was to combine African fabrics with Western tailoring, and convey "African theme = English Dream." I thought it was cool, especially the way she incorporated traditional fabrics.
LINDA COBBINA (Single Garment Entry)
LINDA COBBINA (Single Garment Entry)
Reminiscent of Vivienne Westwood! Click the thumbnail below to see a clearer pic Maria took in the lobby.
RACHEL OTTO (Single Garment Entry)
Rachel's piece won the single garment entry contest. I think it was really well fitted.
That's it! It was a really fun night with lots of talented young designers, one or two of whom I am keeping my eye on. Many thanks to Leeanne Ripley-Garrett for the invitation and Joanna Marcella for putting this huge event together. Also, thanks very much to Maria Ling for the incredible photography.
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