By Helen Shaw

A is for Abstract.

The quality of ‘abstract’ is one in which is perhaps diverse, oxymoronic and fundamentally flawed. On one hand, to be ‘abstract’ is to be absolute; it is everything which is not, abnormal, overt, and even dangerous. It is complex in its varied form, indefinable in its concrete meaning. Abstract can be flawed, imperfect and above all, inspirational. Abstract art, architecture and fashion all collate to create a stance, an empowering collection of beliefs, ideas and forms which deviate from the mundane realities of an otherwise banal existence. Abstract fashion allows us to move away from convention, encompassing modernity and the avant-garde to embrace creativity, to grasp the ‘other’. Art has never been so prolific in fashion design, take Yves Saint Lauren’s literal translation of Piet Mondrian’s compositions as seen above. Abstract is transferable and interchangeable, moving from art to mode fluidly.

Fashion borrows, steals and imitates the world around us, past and present, delving into forgotten era and falling through time to unlived, futuristic style. Fashion has furthermore become abstract, a concept, and more literally, a reflection between abstract art, sculpture, architecture and modern culture. As the pace of the modern world ever increases to the point of frenzy, the world of fashion follows suit, and as the world grows and metropolis and urban life reigns, fashion can only embrace and enhance a theory of chaos, a mix and match amalgamation of old and new.

Abstract fashion, just as abstract art moved away from the boundaries of tradition and the expected, progresses towards the obscure, imaginative and overt grandeur of abstract ideology. The influence of art and sculpture is now replaced by obscure objects, such as stained glass, vintage treasures and perfume bottles, exactly as seen at A/W 09 catwalk shows by Mary Katrantzou…

As the fashion of the 1950s represented the wholesome image of the traditional, nuclear lives of the people, and the safe cars, safe jobs, safe marriages, the fashion of today represents the unease and unrest of today’s ‘fash pack’ when considering the prescribed uniform of high street stores. The generation of style now is uncomfortable with everyday banality, instead choosing to merge and mix with each other, a sporadic exchange between eras, tailoring, cultural influence and music. When one trend is popularised or ‘Topshopped’, young people now moved on and look towards alternative sources of inspiration. It is chameleon fashion, disposable, interchangeable and raw.
The Generation is Now.
The Generation is Abstract.

By Katie Wright

Louise vs Louise

I know it’s a cheap trick, but ain’t it fun when two people have similar names and you can compare them nicely side by side? A case in point being Misses Louise Gray and Goldin, talented upstarts of the London scene, both showing this week.

Louise Goldin: On the whole, it’s chic, it’s cute, the sherbert colours are sweet, there are some great tattoo-y tights, and the shiny spiky shoes are ace. Plus who wasn’t waiting for the comeback of the cone bra? Good effort, Goldin.

Louise Gray: Talk about inventive. This is what London is all about for me. Half the collection seems to be made out of plastic bags e.g. a giant pendant (or is it a bag?) in baby pink, and a belt made out of those particularly darling blue corner shop bags. Add to that graffiti scrawls, misshapen tulip skirts and cut-outs that reveal coloured belly buttons…and we have a winner.

On Monday I met a band called The Temper Trap. They are from Australia and being descendants of convicts like myself they are also connoisseurs of an Aussie musician (and possible institution) called John Williamson, which is basically meaningless to you and this blog but was a nice ice breaker for me - nothing like singing about Cockatoos and Vegemite to soften a mood.

They were surprisingly shy for a band that are plastered all over Sky the now, except when they’re doing impressions of boxing commentators incredibly well. We decided we ought to move to Japan although Lorenzo (gee-tar) is concerned about how we’d collectively survive, which is a kind thought. Myself and Dougy (vocals etc) believe it better to be poor in Japan than here. On the other hand,Dougy also thought it was Wednesday.

As a band it’s taken me aaaages to get into them. I liked their song Science of Fear and because I generally steer clear of ballads (the irony) from rock bands Sweet Disposition sort of passed me by at first. Anyway, they recorded a nice version for me and you can have it right here!

Thank you Dougy and Lorenzo. Who are below, up front and looking street… in their little cage (?).

Cam

By Katie Wright

Towering heels and huge hair made Danielle Scutt’s models even more ridiculously tall than your average.. Add to that dresses that emphasised a womanly figure and it all seemed a little bit pantomime to me – but in a good way. Kooky-beautiful is kind of what Scutt does, and she’s done it again here: adorning clingy feminine silhouettes with checks, spots and squiggles.

PPQ’s use of all black models didn’t seem so much a statement about race in the fashion world, as simply the right choice for a collection that could be summed up with two words: ethnic eighties.

At the other end of the spectrum, Osman Yousefzada’s choice of ‘any colour as long as it’s white’ was rather dull, but it did provide the ideal solution if you had to go to a high-end toga party. So, every cloud…

What’s the hottest thing happening in the US? New York Fashion Week, of course!

Photo credits: Style.com,

Rodarte Spring 2010

Photo credits: Style.com,

Zac Posen Spring 2010

For now, we’ve bid adieu to New York’s Fashion Week as it makes its way to London. So, what did we learn from this week long extravaganza?

Photo credits: Style.com,

Donna Karan Spring 2010

If you didn’t like the 80′s before, too bad so sad, because it’s back. Sexy styling will be in the

forms of sheer fabrics which will consistently make your imagination run rampant, and ripped, slashed, beaten forms of the new ugly pretty. Prints, prints, and more prints will dominate as

we say ‘goodbye’ to neons and bright colors of seasons’ past. Spring 2010 is all about red and muted pastels. Hot sexy red and happy pretty pastels. We couldn’t of asked for more!

Check out more shows from New York Fashion here at Style.com.

Off to you London!

By Charlotte Hoyle

Its official summer is over. However despite the chill in the air we can cling to the exciting prospect of new winter wardrobes. So as we face darker nights, colder mornings and even more rain think happy thoughts as this year sees a varied take on winter fashion.

Summer saw an array of 80’s inspired prints, statement jewelry and neon brights - we were all about the floral cream tea look meets House of Holland on acid, but winter has a more somber palette of luxury midnight colours complimented by heavy textiles such as leather and tweed seen at fashion brands Burberry and Luella.

Continuing with the trends, femininity is present in plunge neck shapes, lucid textiles and revealing skirts; fabric is manipulated around the body to create fluid shapes in silk and organza, which are fitted to the female form.

The feel is very evocative, desirable and emotive. So take a deep breath pull on your knee high boots, grab your oversized clutch and plunge into the glamour of Autumn Winter 2009.