London Fashion Week 2011: Katie Eary

With a large pile of fit-inducing television sets all flashing images to the sounds of Kanye West’s ‘Hell of a Life’ blaring whilst a scantily-clad skeleton sat casually on an unmade bed, I’d be lying if i said  the installation at Somerset House hadn’t got me looking forward to seeing Katie Eary’s ss12 collection in the flesh at The Riverside Rooms, London.

The film focuses on Eary’s ‘Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas’ collection for next year’s spring/summer season, bringing her trademark aesthetic to the small screen. In amongst the blaze of night-vision greens and violent red lights emerged Eary’s vision of a ‘Winter-in-Summer’ look, laying bare our survival instincts to clash the atmosphere of the arctic with the heat of the dessert in a collection based on the aesthetical paradox. Inspired by soldiers from the French Legion to the hallucinogenic narcotics of Vegas,  Eary juxtaposes a myriad of influences to produce a SS12 that’ll turn tradition on its head.

Arriving just in the nick of time after following some of the worst directions known to man, I found myself sat in an intimate room eating a Ferrero Rocher across from Kanye West. As you do…
It was one of those times that you wish the gale force winds outside hadn’t given you a hairdo akin to a mullet and that you weren’t stuffing your face on the freebies. But after I was done chomping on glorified Nutella, I gave Kanye, who was now looking my way, a small salute which was returned with a shy smile and a nod. Shy? Kanye?  Looking to his right, I then noticed his resident bag carrier Mr Hudson sat alongside ready to enjoy the show that was actually using Mr West, once again, as its backing track. Coincidence? No, probably not.

The show began revealing a palette of burnt copper, mustard, cheetah print and gold lame metallics on a series of tshirts and anti fit trousers to reflect the bizarre and brave world of a debauched Las Vegas. With the occasional strut of predominantly ostrich feather and partially sheer womenswear passing by to reveal a very much exposed bottom or two,  it was back to the array of lace up trenches, foiled denim and open air knits accompanied by neon orange wicker luggage and Dutch hood falconry headwear.

Taking to the walk herself, Katie Earey received flowers from her orange-clad leading man as she gratefully thanked the audience for a rapturous response to her edgy and unusual collection.

London Fashion Week 2011: Ada Zanditon

Disclaimer: All pictures are my own and to be creditted if re-used

Dubbed the greenest rising star at A/W11 fashion week back in February, eco warrior Ada Zanditon is back once again to impress with her signature geometrically sculptured and innovative designs.

Studying at the London College of Fashion and previously working for Gareth Pugh, Jonathan Saunders and Alexander McQueen, Zanditon has all the fashion credentials to impress even the most purist of audiences. In an industry where ethical clothing can often hold bland connotations, Ada revolutionises the term to create dynamic designs embodying the most unusual of inspirations.

In an unexpected twist, the show begins in the queue as two out-of-this-world inspired models parade the corridor. An amalgamation of monochrome curves and spherical layers, the two girls glide past onlookers sporting flushes of almost alien metallics to compliment the cosmic, double-layered crown poised on their heads at precarious angles. They're a vision of surrealist calm amongst the hustle of press going in and out of doors, stopping in confusion at the ethereal creatures passing them by.

Previously revealing her SS12 influences as “Seahorses, Greek goddesses and Haiti Kanaval.”, the seemingly abstract become all the more clear as Ada unleashes a screening of a film inspired by her collection, “Poseisus”. Created in collaboration with film makers Andrew and William Ho, the film depicts the heroine, Poseisus, transposed through the urban landscape. Moving from flashes of monochrome, the maiden explores the vibrant urban ocean as her elegant movements and sinuous sheer fabrics reflect the ebb and flow of the tide.

Transposing from citrus oranges to piercing blues, pinks and purples, the striking, other worldly visage as seen on the physical models just prior to the show adds a touch of elegant mythicality to focal character. Simply put, I am in love. The film captured the attention within an instant and held the audience, and myself, captivated until the last frame.

Short but sweet, Ada’s collection most definitely did not disappoint.