Quirky Favorites from London Fashion Week
Last week we covered the collections from New York Fashion Week. This week is all about London. From cereal box icons and cowboy boots to kittens and head-to-toe denim, we’ve got the best quirky looks from London’s top shows.
Cereal box handbags
Kate Middleton would say they’re grrrreat! The duchess’ go-to handbag designer Anya Hindmarch debuted a new collection of purses made from vintage packaging. In addition to carryalls showing retro images of Tony the Tiger and the Kellogg’s Corn Flakes’ rooster, her collection included metallic clutches designed to look like custard cream and bourbon biscuits and Daz laundry detergent. In keeping with the supermarket theme, Hindmarch’s models stood on a moving conveyor belt in place of a catwalk. Some of the models even carried shopping baskets.
Country girl chic
Cowboy boots are back in a big way. Ashley Williams was one of the most talked-about designers of London Fashion Week, and with good reason. The young British designer’s pieces are fresh, original and wearable. Dungarees, colorful cowboy boots, snakeskin flourishes and plenty of denim marked the collection. It also appears that kitten motifs are here to stay. I’m not crazy about the kittens (just a personal preference), but I’m certainly in love with this horse-head fringe leather trench.
1970s Bohemian
Marques’ Almeida’s edgy denim-heavy collection was inspired by Patti Smith’s excellent memoir Just Kids. The models’ bed-head hairstyles and smokey eyes were perfectly in line with the 70s rocker influence. Fuzzy stoles and shoes complemented the comfortable, effortlessly cool vibe of the slouchy denim style. Colorful velvet and satin pieces added a surprising touch of glamour to the collection, without departing from the inspiration.
Star Wars influence
Remember those gowns at Rodarte? Well, Star Wars characters showed up on the runway again, this time with Darth Vader’s face on delicate Preen dresses! Star Wars and kittens are here to stay.
Erica Moody is a Louisiana-born writer who’s called D.C. home since 2010. In addition to fashion writing, she covers social events, edits The Citron Review literary journal and is working on a novel. Erica holds an MFA in creative writing from Antioch University.