London Fashion Week: Ashish AW12

After catching the incredible SS12 collection back in September, there was no way I was missing out on the latest that my fellow sequin lover Ashish has to offer.

The AW12 collection, entitled “Bollywouldn’t” (geddit?), certainly didn’t disappoint. Influenced by a recent trip home to his native India, the Ashish woman takes some of the key elements of ritual life with tie dye silk kurtas  printed with Hari Krishna slogans, headscarves and shimmering images of Buddha featuring heavily.

Mixing the sacred with the profrane, the collection also took into account what I can only describe as the most iconic  of images from 90’s acid rave culture. Jackets and trousers emblazoned with vibrant yellow smiley faces and hallucinogenic paisley prints adorned pieces ranging from pastel to fluorescent. The two inspirations are ying and yang, which is just as well as the symbol could also be found on glittering shorts accompanying platform Doc Marten style boots.

The designer’s move from home to London is apparent throughout the collection ensuring a more personal and well thought approach to the pieces.  It would be easy to ask where else Ashish could go with something as simple as a sequin but, as his transition from SS12 to AW12, I think we can expect great and equally original things in the future.

 

 

 

Keep your eyes peeled this week for an exclusive backstage interview with Ashish where he goes into detail about his inspirations and what's in the pipeline for 2012. Cheers for the chat, Ashish.

Until then..
C. x

Slip Slidin' Away: A/W 2011

I feel it. You feel it. We all feel it. 

Summer has well and truly left us and been replaced with sporadic downpours of violent rain,  tiresome gale force winds and just enough sunshine to leave our minds and bodies absolutely baffled.  My bare legged confidence has shied away behind the opaque screen of black and, today, my trusty leather biker jacket remained on the back of my door in favour of the navy mid-length military coat who’s 2011 debut was particularly well received in Karen Millen earlier. Whilst its a shame we are to be face with many a wardrobe dilemma in the coming months whilst our vanity takes a beating from the elements, I have to admit I’m rather enjoying the change of clothing scenery. Essentially, Autumn/Winter is interesting and people secretly rather enjoy purchasing their cold weather armour, layering item upon item and having an excuse to stuff their weathered feet into stylishly robust boots. I am, of course, no exception.  I’ve had my eye out for some time now, picking up pieces here and there that seemed just a little too much. After all, the English are known for embracing the summer the second it simply stops raining, racing to get their arms and legs out for any ray of light that can offer even the suggestion of a sunkissed glow.  Despite this, the A/W season allows free reign for a different kind of aesthetic experimentation alongside the obvious comfort of the tried and test chunky knit. So, on this frankly dismal and overcast day, I thought I’d reveal a few personal A/W pleasures of mine to be enjoyed with a touch of sun and a chilly air. For my first casual instalment, I present unto you...

 ChinaWhites Dress: £50.00 Love Lucy X

After sampling a little taste of this from Ashish’s S/S12 collection, I’ll be getting ready in advance and adorning myself with as many sequins as I can manage. It’s no secret that I am like a magpie for these shiny delights and Winter has always struck me as the perfect time to crack them out. A little strong for the summer months, the feel of a heavy sequined throw or evening dress is exactly what I want when the cold sets in. Classically elegant in black, this dress is at the top of my wish list. Sometimes not having a set of DDs is a godsend, a smaller chest making this dress beautifully sophisticated despite the low cut. Hilariously, I spotted it on the site of a chavvy reality television programme and it also possesses the name China Whites. We’ll just keep quiet about that. 

REVIVE Sequin Wrap Dress: £150.00 ASOS

Stunning isn’t it? If i ignored my currently state of poverty (that isn’t going to get better anytime soon after accepting  an internship with Fashion156) I would be in this at every available occasion.  I don’t care if people find sequins a tad Dynasty, I, like Ashish, am obsessed. With the relaunch of Who’s Jack Magazine just weeks away, you can guarantee there’ll be a hint of sparkle at least somewhere on my person. 

London Fashion Week 2011: Ashish

Last week’s guest style editor for ASOS online and fellow lover of all things sequined, flamboyant London based Ashish Gupta was sure to brighten up my over cast Saturday morning and he didn’t disappoint.

Despite his SS11 collection providing an amalgamation of cowboys and Indians by way of a southern Californian pit stop, his 2012 ensemble looked likely to take a more enchanting approach as he revealed his collection would channel holiday romances and far off places. However, his SS12 collection, entitled ‘Le Jardin d’Ashish’ actually took a more green fingered angle as models paraded the runway in a profusion of sequined blooms.

With the tag line “She may be floral but she’s not flowery”, we were right to expect bags of attitude from this outlandish collection. With enough colour to satisfy any artist’s palette, the designs screamed summer. The shapes were simple but lavishly coated in pearly sequins acting as a backdrop to vibrant yellow sunflowers reminiscent of Van Gogh. The garish florals did not stop there as clashes of rich, oriental red poppies on leopard print adorned the short hemlines and slim cut trousers whilst the very wall of the garden made its appearance on several redbrick garments. With real daisies apparently growing out of the chunky military style boots, long, relaxed side plaits and straw fedoras accessorized the collection to great effect, running with the garden theme until the very last details.

FROW Paloma Faith outside show space and inside with Liz jones, fashion journalist and one of my inspirations

Doing the Rounds: Prepping for London Fashion Week 2011

As the sun finally rears its head and the tail-end of Katrina apparently subsides for the time being, I've been busily gearing up for London Fashion Week and to say I’m a little excitable about the days ahead could be somewhat of an understatement.


For those of you who don’t know, I’ll be blogging on behalf of Who’s Jack Magazine  to provide daily coverage for some of the big name fashion moguls and, more importantly, giving exposure to some of the finest as-yet-unknown designers the industry has to offer. And as the weekend schedule arrived in my inbox this morning, let’s just say the day was off to a good start as I can now look forward to situating myself at the shows of some dynamic and unusual bright stars set to make their mark in the coming months. I’ll also be running a behind the scenes blog, snitching on my fellow man on any interesting garble that comes from their autumn plum coated mouths. At the initial Jack meeting, the team were issued strict, but I think you’ll agree, fair, instructions not to overdo it on the free champagne cocktails and then vomit on Henry Holland. However, always to be an exception to the rule, I am allowed such a privilege (Don’t tell Henry) as long as I take a high definition photograph and write down the details of the fiasco as ‘gossip’. They say all press is good press but I can’t see that doing me any favours....

With just two days to go, let me share a few details of my whereabouts for the weekend. I’ll be sat, camera in hand and scribbling into my notebook for John Rocha on Saturday but here’s a few other main schedule events that have really got me on the edge of my seat to be on the edge of my (not quite front row) seat:

 ADA ZANDITON: Friday 3.15pm Somerset House

Citing her SS12 inspirations as “Seahorses, Greek goddesses and Haiti Kanaval.”, it’s easy to see why I’m more than a little curious at what Ada has to offer. Having previously worked for Alexander McQueen, Jonathan Saunders and Gareth Pugh before setting up her own label, its probably a fair assumption that her ethical and sustainable designs will be undoubtedly intelligent and inspired as she uses her own unique illustrations to create individual and distinctive ready to wear pieces.
Judging by her AW11 collection 'The Cryoflux', there is to be no skimping on the visuals either as the makeup speaks as loudly as the clothing to reflect the collection’s core concepts. With last season’s ghostly countenance echoing the cold-as-ice palette, what am I expecting this time round? Well, if seahorses are anything to go by then I’m hoping for metallics, ocean blues and the occasional crustacean to boot. However, to second guess such a bold new designer would be futile which is exactly why i’m so eager to find out for myself.

Images courtesy of LFW


ASHISH: Saturday 11.00am Somerset House
The current guest style editor for ASOS online and fellow lover of all things sequined, flamboyant London based Ashish Gupta is sure to brighten up my no doubt over cast Saturday. And despite his SS11 collection providing an amalgamation of cowboys and Indians via a southern California pit stop, his 2012 ensemble is set to take a more enchanting approach as he seeks to channel holiday romances and far off places. Ashish is a brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously but thats not to say that we should take it lightly. Debuting his first collection in 2001, this year marks a decade for Ashish at fashion week and i’m sure the spectators will not be disappointed at his celebration.

Images Courtesy of CatWalking

CRAIG LAWRENCE: Saturday 1.00pm Somerset house

Hailing from my neck of the woods, or near enough for me to at least feel a geographical connection, is Craig Lawrence who’s twitter description simply reads: “I knit lots of things.” And that he unmistakably does as his collections involve a curious process of knitting with unconventional materials to create voluminous, fluffy and shiny knitwear. And I’m talking the kind of knitwear that Tilda Swindon effortlessly drapes herself in for editorials, not the dodgy jumper you received from Granny at Christmas – though for some trendy London and, more noticeably for me, Leeds, types they’re probably on a style par. The reason am I so excited for this gentleman’s work may also have something  to do with the following two words: knitted crystal. Oh yes, Craig’s most recent accolade is his new season’s sponsor, Swarovski.

Image courtesy of ID
After being papped for Glossy Box UK at last week’s Vogue Fashion Night Out, I was crowned the ‘stylish winner’ of their street style competition and will now receive a year’s subscription to their monthly beauty boxes. However, as it stands, my outfit choices for the week ahead are non existent. However, you can probably expect to see my bowler hat make an appearance at some point along with my electric blue heels. Not exactly on trend but they’re a bit of fun amongst the sea of simplistic blouses and shift dresses. Then again, I’ve heard stories from the Jack team about a girl who turned up dressed to the nines and walking 6 Chihuahuas around the square in the hope of being photographed so simplicity is not to be sniffed at. There will also be a street style blog on the go along side the day’s most notable trend and even a food diary so be sure to keep an eye out on Who's Jack and be sure to follow me @littlemyth

Until Friday...