There are moments in every fashion week where you see something and you just can’t get it out of your mind. It may be a beauty look, shoe, accessory, or print, but trends be dammed as it’s the only thing on your must-have list. The Fall collections in London were filled with such items and even if completely out of left field trend-wise, there are some looks that cannot go unrecognized. Here are a few of my can’t-get-them-out-of-my-head moments from this past week:
The layered knit skirts at Meadham Kirchoff had my eye from the moment they, albeit briefly, graced the runway. The crazed prairie schoolgirl look was the antithesis to the standout collection from Rodarte in New York and was a well needed breath of fresh air.
Fashion East is always a reliable source for talent, but this season Simone Rocha‘s sophomore presentation had everyone atwitter, especially about the accessories. The perspex heeled brogues immediately topped must-have lists from the moment the models walked, seemingly on their tiptoes, in the heavy soled shoes – and paired with a single wire crown, Rocha’s collection is sure to be editorial gold.
The whole world has gone spotty with everyone from Marc Jacobs to Burberry showing dots in their collections, but it was the shoes at Topshop Unique that had me reaching for my credit card. Try as we may, it will be difficult to integrate the outrageous prints into every aspect of our wardrobe but these shoes, with their reasonable height and schoolgirl form, are the perfect encapsulation of the trend.
Erdem has positioned himself as the king of floral prints so when he showed a collection conspicuously free of traditional flowers, some were worried, but this washed out artisanal print was so unique, and equally chic, that it only worked to raise the young designer’s profile.
Day one of any fashion week is always a shock to the system, but from the moment I sat down in the Savoy to see Maria Grachvogel and this skirt debuted, I knew it was going to be a stellar season. It is just short enough to be modern but conservative enough for next season that when it flowed through the room, it was hard to notice anything else.
There have been a few stellar beauty looks this season but Mark Fast‘s ‘crazed lamb’ look was especially cool. The twisted and pinned updo paired with a brown smokey eye was just menacing enough to add a rough edge to the collection.
Since his standalone debut, Michael Van Der Ham‘s patchwork dresses have drawn the eye of the fashion world and there was serious buzz surounding his collection, but when he sent out a procession of jewel toned velvet dresses masterfully cut with the same keen eye for detail as the patchwork pieces, there was no doubt of its success.
Offsite venues can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you don’t have a driver, and are often more trouble than they’re worth, but this season’s surroundings were stunning. From Drapers Hall and the ballroom of the Savoy to the Royal Courts of Justice, the venues were certainly added value, but the winner is Topshop’s Showspace at Old Billingsgate Market which offered a menu of free drinks and snacks to tide you over the long days.
Photos: Vincenzo Grillo, IMAXtree; Style.com; Topshop.com
