London Fashion Week - Joanne Hynes
My stand-out show from London Fashion Week was without doubt that of Galway girl Joanne Hynes whose Plastiscope collection caused a ripple of excitement amongst a packed audience at Vauxhall Fashion Scout. Models sporting beehive hairdos walked trance-like to a mash-up of 60s B-movie riffs and fun fair refrains. The otherworldly feel underscored the Hynes heroine – an abstract yet archetypal girl eschewing boundaries and embracing the freedom of her position. Between the polar opposites of chaos and control, stood a colour-blocked cacophony of foiled appliqué leather jackets layered over leather pencil and sequin lurex tube skirts with couture latex stockings finishing the look. Hynes’ outré neckpieces took centre stage however with the front row reeling over oversized animal pendants and larger than life lamé clutch bags – the perfect accessories for the late night party girl. “It’s the right side of wrong,” says Joanne of her eclectic Edie Sedgewick ensembles. We think it’s just perfect. Be prepared. Fashionistas have started writing their Santa lists early.
My stand-out show from London Fashion Week was without doubt that of Galway girl Joanne Hynes whose Plastiscope collection caused a ripple of excitement amongst a packed audience at Vauxhall Fashion Scout. Models sporting beehive hairdos walked trance-like to a mash-up of 60s B-movie riffs and fun fair refrains. The otherworldly feel underscored the Hynes heroine – an abstract yet archetypal girl eschewing boundaries and embracing the freedom of her position. Between the polar opposites of chaos and control, stood a colour-blocked cacophony of foiled appliqué leather jackets layered over leather pencil and sequin lurex tube skirts with couture latex stockings finishing the look. Hynes’ outré neckpieces took centre stage however with the front row reeling over oversized animal pendants and larger than life lamé clutch bags – the perfect accessories for the late night party girl. “It’s the right side of wrong,” says Joanne of her eclectic Edie Sedgewick ensembles. We think it’s just perfect. Be prepared. Fashionistas have started writing their Santa lists early.
London Fashion Week - John Rocha
John Rocha stayed true to his endearing love of texture, structure and form with a breathtaking collection – high on craftsmanship and eclectic references. A trip to the Amazon underscored the romantic runway edit where our Irish-adopted son saw Indians using raw materials like leaves and wood bark to make clothes. “I thought it would be great to do something organic,” tells Rocha, “something that is really close to what I believe in and will hopefully make people more aware of the Amazon." Hand-tucked raffia and leather ruffles covered shoes and hemlines; while patchwork crochet married itself with softly pleated asymmetry in elongated skirts and trousers. Wire headpieces made evanescent the hauntingly monochrome cavalcade – yet another big win for Irish in the high fashion stakes.
London Fashion Week - Simone Rocha
Simone Rocha unveiled her third collection to a packed salon audience at Portland Place. Interestingly, the location is where scenes from The King's Speech was shot. Unlike George VI however, Rocha expressed her design vision with a fluidity and ease that belies her years. Irish model Danielle Winkworth opened the show - a collection of twenty looks anchored in black and white with shots of hot green and pink. A mistress of fabric manipulation, Ms. Rocha played with sheer panelling and overlays on classic shirt fronts adding plastic collars and treated lace skirts - challenging the traditional masculine/feminine interplay. Her signature perspex-heeled floating brogues - this time in summer leather and plastic - were utterly waiting-list worthy. One to watch without a shadow of a doubt.
Simone Rocha unveiled her third collection to a packed salon audience at Portland Place. Interestingly, the location is where scenes from The King's Speech was shot. Unlike George VI however, Rocha expressed her design vision with a fluidity and ease that belies her years. Irish model Danielle Winkworth opened the show - a collection of twenty looks anchored in black and white with shots of hot green and pink. A mistress of fabric manipulation, Ms. Rocha played with sheer panelling and overlays on classic shirt fronts adding plastic collars and treated lace skirts - challenging the traditional masculine/feminine interplay. Her signature perspex-heeled floating brogues - this time in summer leather and plastic - were utterly waiting-list worthy. One to watch without a shadow of a doubt.
