Alternative Fashion Week – Day 3

Maggie Pinhorn began, as she has done each day with a few brief words that introduced Alternative Fashion Week, its sponsors and most importantly the young designers whose work was to be shown that day. The ‘Really Tight Corsettes’ were again providing music, which although lacking an American singer; piano and acoustic guitar (in my eyes the key ingredients to the perfect song) are obviously very talented musicians and a pleasure to listen to. Enough jabbering I believe I was there to admire (or at least look) at the work being sent down the runway

It was a promising start with what I think was 3 collections from students at Havering College. Avant-garde was its promise with inspiration drawn from the 18^th century; the final result were striking garments heavy on Vivienne Westwood’s signature draping technique. It felt very British, as in the pieces were classic but with that twist we seem to have become famed for. The menswear collection was just delicious, I promise you I’m not talking about the models; tweed suits with velvet trimmings, a pinch of yellow and a smattering of red – tres chic! There was also the way they all walked down the runway, the men were classically dressed and taking their place as dominant male by escorting the elegantly dresses ladies down the catwalk. Please do not mistake me for 50’s housewife but I do very much believe that men should open doors, walk on the side of the pavement next to the traffic and ultimately be a gentleman. This collection put men and women in the roles that are sometimes forgotten in modern living, it may be okay to wear your sweatpants to work but the act of formal dressing should never be forgotten.

Nicole Sawyers ‘Ringmasters Boutique’ collection should have been left to travel with the circus. Please note that just because All Saints gather their garments in order to increase the price tag 10 fold does not mean that is all you have to do in order to produce a ‘boutique’ clothing. Fortunately the sight of last seasons Christian Louboutain thigh high leather boots distracted me that is until she sent a New Look worthy striped strapless top out, all in all not a great collection.

On my notes for Mary Ratcliffe I’ve scribbled ‘patchwork loveliness’ and ‘delightfully disheveled’ that was all I could manage, I feared if I looked down for too long I would miss the detail on the next look. Yes, I admit I love, love, loved it! Sparkly ankle accessories, driftwood necklaces, bomber jackets with whimsical carton characters and animal bags of the stuffed variety. Oh and I have found a substitute for a certain Giles Deacon metallic dinosaur bag, (having grudgingly accepted that this item is never going to be mine), it comes in both bear and horse shapes although I think my plan will be to find the perfect stuffed metallic dino friend to customize as Mary did. She has made customizing something more than adding a patch here or a sequin there; she completely re works these clothes into something both fun and wearable without going over the top.

Have you seen the Sex in the City episode where Carrie makes her fashion show debut in those glittery panties and the um designer tells her to ‘trot back love’? Well that was obviously the same instructions given to girls walking in Adel Andic’s show, even that combined with thigh high PVC hooker boots couldn’t distract from the hideous brown shiny creations being paraded in front of me. It was so blugh and it just kept coming, more and more shiny creations, then a cute coat with fur collar and Voila – Fini!!

’m not really a trainer girl unless I’m running or no, that’s about it and I most certainly don’t want to wear clothing that resembles one – surely the shoes it’s self is enough? Gemma Wadsworth collection was seamlessly made, the garments were different enough to provide variation but obviously themed it’s just a shame that theme was the Adidas Tokyo trainer!

The London Printworks Trust showed a collection based on Breakfast at Tiffany’s (classic), The Matrix (long black cloaks), Beat Street (think fresh prince of Bel Air) and Marie Antoinette (extravagance) please don’t make me write anymore it was as freaky as it sounds. Apart from one of the girls wearing a Marie Ann wig creation I just don’t see how any of these influences well influenced the designers, that said it would not matter what the press release said if the items were fantastic, as you may have gathered they were not.

My first thoughts on ALQ UK Brand – Kill me know!!!! It looked like they had popped down to Zara and picked up a few chunky knit cardigans, teamed them with jeans and said ‘strut down the runway like you’re not in your own clothing’.

Amanda Wai Yin Ng draped and layered various black materials in order to create her ‘Frozen Illusion/Internal Torment’ collection. It was dull, like really boring and as far as I can remember she sent the same thing down the runway again and again. Oh and there was also a lack of attention to detail, tights were laddered, no crazy destroyed laddered but oopsey I snagged it laddered and the shoes had stickers on the bottom – ARGH!

Relief from boredom came in the form of Elisabeth Hamlyn’s knitwear, interestingly shaped pieces done in rich color and not a pom pom in sight! It was ask if Mark Fast had borrowed his grandmama’s knitting needles and gotton busy with deep reds, Persians blues, burnt oranges and jade greens. There was a stunning red gillet that looked as though it was made from rope, super intricately twisted together over a simple grey jumper.

Who would have thought latex could be pretty? Amy Day’s ‘Celestial Macabre’ collection was plastic fantastic; corsages in an array of pastel shades decorated both the hair and bodies of the alternative models. She also combined this more unusual material with cotton; silk and chiffon to create pieces that I hadn’t even thought were possible!

No, no, no you don’t mix pink cotton with multicolored knitwear; somebody should have mentioned this to Maartje de Man before he embarked on his ‘Imaginary Escape’ collection. Supposedly a credit crunch friendly holiday to South America, hum well if that’s what it’s like in the deepest south of the USA I will staying in London where the sun is shining and the boys are cute!

Apparently all you need to create a collection nowadays is ?!X and not only am I supposed to wear this phrase but it is supposed to inspire me to think positively about the future. Well it’s going to take more than a few symbols to convince me that everything is going to be okay, show me a paid job and I’ll maybe crack a smile! Personally ‘Think Act Vote’ did a poor attempt at a P Diddy ‘Vote or Die’ campaign and no adding tassels doesn’t make everything better.

Colchester School of Art and Design are no doubt a talented bunch, the beading detail on certain items was fantastic I would have loved to have had a closer look. Black trousers with zips, chains, dangly bits and anything else that can be attached waltzed down the runway next too tie dye shirts, if they hadn’t been covered by a jacket I may have got up and left right there and then!

Fortunately that was the last show of the day leaving me free to drink Frappacinos in the sunshine, until tomorrow – Au Revoir!!