Style Icon’s The Fashion Word: Highlights of London Fashion Week SS16
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There’s something about London Fashion Week that gets every body talking. Whether it’s the eclectic street style, or that raw edge London fashion is known for and often associated with a more urban lifestyle, movers and shakers within the world of fashion didn’t allow the rain to stop them from flooding the entrance of Brewer Street Car Park, the new residential fashion hub for the British Fashion Council who hosted a number of fashion shows, and a fashion exhibition of emerging talent for spring summer 2016. The new venue is very Central – Soho – which connects to various underground links. Hix Restaurant was a stone-throw away; a great spot for coffee, and a light lunch. The BFC offered a corporate hospitality package which was a great way to enjoy London Fashion Week as a day’s experience. With this, corporate clients received complimentary champagne as an industry speaker revealed top SS16 trends in relation to shows at Brewer Street after which a delicious lunch was provided. It is important to keep a steady momentum going through out fashion week so a well-planned schedule is much needed with a few breaks in between to revitalise yourself.
Supporting British talent is exciting in itself, simply because there are so many emerging designers graduating from some of the best fashion colleges in London who are demonstrating such innovation and raw creativity. British culture is so strong in heritage and character that any London-based designer would stand out anywhere in the world through a cool but yet slight edgy simplicity that echoes the effortless, quietly confident style of any British brand. On that note, one fashion brand to watch is Triona which applauds its heritage. It is situated in the small town of Ardara, Co. Donegal hence their tradition of producing the highest quality Donegal tweed. In 1992, the Triona brand expanded becoming a Failte Ireland Approved Donegal Tweed Visitors Centre. Its signature look is the classic cape in vibrant colours such as purple, blue and pick as well as in more autumnal, muted tones suitable for women of all ages. The collection is unisex with high quality knits for men in addition to contemporary overcoats. Overall, Triona is a classic brand rooted in a simple philosophy to showcase its brand’s identify of using traditional tweed; a somewhat less commercial approach to fashion.
Ong-Oaj Pairam Thai-British fashion designer is well known for his colourful prints, and vibrant fashion collections. His spring summer SS16 show took place at Hotel Cafe Royal, Pompadour Room. Against the grand decor, models walked the catwalk in floating dresses showcasing a tropical theme. What also sprung to mind was a safari-inspired collection with a strong colour palette of khaki green and beige. Tailored jackets in these colours complimented girly dresses, and trench coats cinched in at the waist stood out as a strong look set to become a big trend for spring summer. Ong-Oaj Pairam plays close attention to detail in his design execution. Intricate lace, silks, and ruffles add an exquisite element to the collection. His use of neons also had a 1960s ‘Flower Power’ or ‘Hippy’ vibe with his finale dresses owning the runway. Definitely one to watch.
Asli Polat’s spring summer SS16 collection was a great start to the day. Having took place at The Vinyl Factory, the grass covered runway was sprinkled with delicate flowers against a white backdrop. The atmosphere was serene adding to the meadow-like setting! Her collection was playful; showcasing a number of styles versatile for pretty much any occasion – playsuits for the day, generously cut dresses and off-the-shoulder detail for a more understated sexy look, and safari skirts and jackets for structure. Polat cleverly gives us a taste of how to manipulate voluminous shapes to look hot in an effortless way. Sheer fabrics were draped across a number of ensembles. A skirt and trouser combo stood out complimented by a bustier. Subtle nudity and transparency are key looks for next season as Asli so elegantly portrays in her collection. The colour palette was reminiscent of spring with soft hues of sky blue, baby pink, and white against a slightly more autumnal khaki green.
Zeynep Kartal never fails to disappoint. Her collection is fresh and vibrant and seems to cater for women of all ages. The beauty of her spring summer 2016 collection is in its versatility; various silhouettes appear as necessary everyday wardrobe staples – voluminous playsuits, beautiful evening dresses with a plunging neckline and more masculine tailoring in the form of waistcoat dresses and structured catsuits. Zeynep Kartal gets the balance between feminine and androgynous qualities exactly right. One has the choice of looking powerful during the day in a more minimalistic ensemble to demure and very lady-like in the evening. The transition is clear and shows an ability to instinctively know what a woman likes and how she likes to feel in her clothes. The colour palette is clean with strong tones of blue, red, white and beige. Once again, another British-based designer who is clearly making her mark on the fashion scene.
Written by Natalie Robinson | Photography by Norman Peltier | Images of Zeynep Kartal by Simon Armstrong www.vogue.co.uk | Images of Ong-Oaj Pairam by www.hprlondon.com
