GON' HEAD

I haven't been totally truthful - I actually have been to London Fashion Week this season. I was invited to EcoLuxe by the lovely designer Ilya Fisher, who makes beautiful handmade silk shibori skirts (more on her later methinks). 

I was really curious to go because EcoLuxe is full of designers who have committed to making sustainable clothing - a good cause. Also, lots of them are quite interesting; my favourites by far were the co-founders of Etrala, Emilio Portes Cruz and Maria Rodrigues Liñan. The clothes they make remind me a little of Monki - very playful, with bright whimsical details - like bright lining in the coats, pockets and hoods, as well as contrasting trim on collars. First pics below (all from their fb): 

{Maria and Emilio}

{Pieces!}

{More pieces}

KAVEKE

One of my favourite new designers, from a recent show at London Fashion Week - Kaveke. Thanks so much to the team at La Geneve North for the kind invitation to come along. All images taken by the lovely Rosie Allt.

AND WHAT ROUGH BEAST, ITS HOUR COME ROUND AT LAST, SLOUCHES TOWARDS BETHLEHAM TO BE BORN?

Images from an exhibition from fashion label Prophetik, at The Rag Factory (off of Brick Lane, London). The clothes were why we were all there, but what really got my attention was the mannequins.

{title comes from the poem "The Second Coming" by Yeats}

OPEN YOUR EYES!

More of Lola's LFW drip feed - this time Georgia Hardinge A/W 2011. Some photos Rosie and I took at the showcase.

{title is a quote from the film True Romance}

THE KEY IS IN THE LIGHT, THE KEY IS IN THE WINDOW

The Beautiful Deluge of Alice Palmer AW11, photos by Rosie Allt, www.rosieallt.com (click to enlarge)

The Stage

The Audience

The Dress

[Title is an excerpt of a letter Allen Ginsberg's mother wrote to him in a letter after reading HOWL]

IN MY DREAMS YOU WALK DRIPPING FROM A SEA-JOURNEY ON THE HIGHWAY ACROSS AMERICA IN TEARS TO THE DOOR OF MY COTTAGE IN THE WESTERN NIGHT

I'm not the most buttoned down person in the world, so at first it was a struggle for me to relate to the super-coiffed, slickly manicured looks from Jasper Garvida AW11. The tailoring looked too heavy, the cutouts and thigh-high slits dated, and the hardware and knotted accents seemed like they belonged on a cabinet, or wrapped around my great aunt's winter curtains. I sat there grumbling to myself, "Scarlett O'Hara only wore curtains because of the WAR, today we have more CHOICES..."

Then he started in with the graphic prints and keyhole cutouts... and I pretty much shut up.

And as for dowdy embellishments, LOOK AT THIS KEY BELT! I MEAN LOOK AT IT. I can't comment because my mouth is full of humble pie/crow.

So, I found some things to love. The way Jasper worked with the ligher fabrics REALLY worked to me, I suppose because a silk or a light jersey just can't sustain heavy accents and willy nilly cutouts that looked like some 10 year old's construction papered art project. Anyhow, by the end, he really got his point across. And won a cynic over.

[This post's title is the last stanza of HOWL by Allen Ginsberg]
[All photos by Rosie Allt, www.rosieallt.com]

A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS

I loved attending the Zed Eye S/S 11 Show at La Geneve North's Saturday 'A La Mode' show for London Fashion Week. I have to say, I think was my favourite runway show to date, and that's saying a lot (mineral makeup and fishnets in the goody bag, well done Yolande)!


The collection is called Tribal Romance Revisited and is inspired by Nigeria (by the way, if you are wondering I am not Nigerian. I have however met lots of talented Nigerian fashionistas). I've seen several designers who aim to take traditional materials and modernise them using Western styling and techniques, but none that have worked as well as this collection, and none have looked so universal. I could see all kinds of women wearing these clothes.... including ME.


Lots of unconventional materials used here, like feathered epaulettes and belts, and spiky stilettos. Can't find my USB adaptor but when I do, I'll upload detail shots of everything. Anyhow, this is definitely worth a second look.

[This post's title is the title of a 2006 semi-autobiographical film by director Dito Montiel  about growing up in Astoria in the 80s. It's got so much honesty to it, it's one of my favourite movies. Reminds me of "This is England" which is another 2006 semi-autobiographical film about growing up in the 80s, but instead it's by director Shane Meadows and set in some English coastal town - and it's another of my favourite movies. Anyways, look above for the trailer to "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints"]

[All images from zedeye.com]