London Fashion Week 2019 - Bobby Abley

London Fashion Week is currently underway and I have partnered up with local photographer Gordon Formosa, from GoRaw Photography who is currently in London, to share with you the best of the runway shows.

Any Wizard of Oz fans here? Get comfy cos you're in for a treat, courtesy of Bobby Abley and his SS20 collection. Abley has an obsession with cartoons and this is not the first time he has merged his passions in one. He has created collections based on The Little Mermaid, Star Wars, Spongebob Squarepants, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, Teletubbies, Power Rangers, Looney Tunes, Mickey Mouse and Pokemon! This time, he re-interpreted the 1939 movie starring Judy Garland for his collection which was originally written by L. Frank Baum in 1900 and continues to enchant adults and children alike to this day!

I'm going to say it out loud, I am obsessed with Bobby Abley's interpretation of this classic tale! I remember myself as a little girl owning a pair of red flats and my father used to tell me to click my heels three times and he would lift me up in the air and take me to the kitchen to eat my dinner (I was always a fussy eater and he tried to make eating fun) so I literally grew up with Dorothy and her friends.

We have the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and Dorothy herself as well as the munchkins, the Wicked Witch of the West, allusions to the Emerald City and the Yellow Brick Road and all the elements that make up the classic story, re-invented for the daring, modern fashionistas.

We have long, pointy green nails just as the Wicked Witch would have worn them, Dorothy's iconic light blue and white checked dress re-invented into a leotard/jumpsuit (the bottoms of which remind me of Rihanna x Manolo Blahnik tigh-high denim boots) and a dungaree for men, and a rainbow coloured gilet to symbolise the song synonymous with the movie, 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'. 

Truly a collection to be proud of! Very well executed Mr. Abley!

All photography by GoRaw Photography

London Fashion Week 2019 - Richard Malone

London Fashion Week is currently underway and I have partnered up with local photographer Gordon Formosa, from GoRaw Photography who is currently in London, to share with you the best of the runway shows.

It's time to report on another fashion from London Fashion Week and this time, the spotlight shines on Richard Malone, who dedicated his collection to his grandmother Nellie Malone who sadly passed away a few months ago.

 

Richard Malone is  known for his colour palette of blues, greens and yellows as well as his ability to translate his inspiration from sculptures seamlessly into fashionable garments. He also derives much of his inspiration from his hometown Wexford in Ireland and the country's rebellious working class teens.

Sweet tributes to his grandmother could be seen in the form of doodles and hand-written notes on the sleeves of mesh tops. He also included subtle hints of corsetry which was a favourite with his grandmother, in the form of ruching and nipped-in waistlines.

 

The beautiful structures are a testament to Malone's talent with tailoring, however, I felt the collection lacked cohesion and I failed to see how the mix of styles could pertain to a single collection. Nonetheless, even though there were pieces which are better left on the catwalk, some are more wearable and I really fancied the two-part ankle-strap shoes.

All photographs by GoRaw Photography

London Fashion Week 2019 - Seven Continents of Fashion

London Fashion Week is currently underway and I have partnered up with local photographer Gordon Formosa, from GoRaw Photography who is currently in London, to share with you the best of the runway shows from Fashion Scout. Fashion Scout is an international showcase for fashion pioneers and, one of the UK's largest independent portal for emerging and established designers during London Fashion Week. Fashion Scout is mostly renowned for championing, nurturing and showcasing creative fashion design talent from all around the world.

Next up, we have 4 brands in one show under the hood of "Seven Continents" which is the brain child of Jera Creative Agency and Fabusse and was launched in Cannes 2018 during the Cannes Film Festival along the famous heart of “Croisette”, showcasing an eclectic mix of celebrated influential designers, film enthusiast, artists, representing seven continents. Seven Continents of Fashion is proud to be showcasing this season with celebrity designers in London at an exclusive slot - Fashion Scout.

The four designers who showcased their collections are In Couture, By Thaher, Nila Baharauddin and Kartikeya. Each collection, albeit different, has the same ethereal vibe going on with exception of Nila Baharauddin who took a more casual approach in her designs. The other three brands have made every couture fan's dream a reality with gowns looking like they just came out of a fairy-tale.

We have a palette of dreamy pinks evocative of soft, feminine features and seductive blacks with hints of blue, red and gold from In Couture. I love the strong silhouettes presented which are perfect for that special occasion. In Couture was founded in Istanbul, Turkey in 2013 by Ayman Alhamwi and Mohmmed Alselka, with the latter leading a group of international designers for the brand. This enabled In Couture to create a number of specialized groups in the latest fashion trends throughout the year. The company has many stores around the world. It has about 185 selling points in the most important selling centers and fashion markets. After years of struggle and working hard, the company has created its own distinctive imprint in the fashion world of the evening dresses.

Next we have By Thaher, from Kuwait, who is famously known for his signature collection among the Royals in the Middle East as well as celebrities, Thaher Baqer private collection is inspired from the world of crystal and the 20’s vibe where you can make a real show of luxurious nights and fabulous presence. The collection is all about crystal and femininity that reflect each women’s body and personality that is the definition of Thaher Baqer Couture. Again here we have lots of voluminous ruffles and crystals which offer a spectacle to behold. These are some of my absolute favourites from this collection.

The last couture show is courtesy of Kartikeya, the solo debut of the co-founder of Dozakh,- Nitin Kartikeya. Launched in 2013, the label strives to breathe a fresh new life into old world lore. Best described as a fleeting play on past eras– Kartikeya garments are heavily inspired by its founder’s dabble in theatre and film. His muse is a delicate concoction of old world heritage and romance for the arts. This paradoxical nature adds a feeling of avante garde and surrealism to each piece.The label is nourished by its roots in the faded opulence and magnificence of the Baroque era. Inspired by the legacy, culture and mythical nature of the old world, each garment is exclusively crafted by skilled artisans and infused with a sense of raw energy, appealing to the sartorial sensibilities of a global client. I especially like the royal blues and regal reds in this collection as well as the heavy beaded on the garments.

The last show from Seven Continents offers a more casual insight into street-style with Nila Baharuddin's creations which have totally reminded me of what the women in Japan wear, especially in Tokyo. It's a very fashion-forward approach to an otherwise casual look. Her expertise in making the best out of patterns and structures, Nila continues to create one-of-a-kind fashion pieces that gets her recognised by fashionistas and celebrities.

All photography by GoRaw Photography