When the train pulls into London’ s Charing Cross station and the sun is only just breaking through the sky, there must be a reason for being in the city at this early hour of the day. A swift walk down The Strand to Somerset House revealed why, as the sun rose over the British Fashion Council tent in the courtyard and the buzz began. London Fashion Week.
A week of over 100 fashion shows and events, happening right across the capital, from the big names to up and coming designers. It’s monumental, amazing for people watching, style snapping for street style bloggers and for us at LadyM Towers means late nights, tired feet but happy fashionistas as we find out what the Autumn/Winter trends are for 2012.
Antoni & Alison – London Fashion Week A/W12
Our first show was the opening show of LFW and there is nothing quite like being at this event. Last year it was Paul Smith opening, this year Antoni & Alison take the prime slot and as bleary eyed fashion Editors and journalists and stylists take their seats the atmosphere crackles with excitement. I was seated in a prime spot thanks to sponsors LG. LG are the Official Garment Suppliers of London Fashion Week – making sure that all the garments look fabulous before they enter onto the runway.
The show opened with a voiceover explaining the story behind the Antoni & Alison label and where Antoni Burakowski and Alison Roberts began, their thought processes behind their work and what their show today was all about. It’s quite rare to have such an explanation and although it was a little long, it was great to understand the ideas behind the collection before seeing it. Nothing beats the feeling of the intro music fading down, the tent turning to darkness and then the thud of the first track and the spot lights coming on, as the first show gets under way.
“Models walking up and down in dresses”
Working together for 25 years, Antoni & Alison happen to be both the ‘thinkers’ and the ‘doers’ of the work. This collection felt like everything they have been trying to do since they were students, finally becoming possible, as they say “it’s only technology that has allowed us to make them now”.
The collection of 36 dresses felt very ethereal and earthy, the dresses were all just above the knee, silk printed dresses with either long sleeves or kimono style shorter sleeves.
The name of the dresses really just show how much thought and fun has gone into the collection “Green explosion of Shredded Iridescence” and “Brown Paper Bag” were some of my favourites. The collection was like drawings on a canvas, with the models sporting short cropped hair, almost to frame those drawings and not to draw attention away from the dresses themselves.
The collection was very clever. From first site it appeared to feature tops and skirts, knitwear separates and tweed skirts to a tuxedo shirt, jacket and skirt. But when you look closely it is all a trick of the eye. They were all high tech, digital print dresses, combining artistic prints to deceive the eye into thinking they are separates when they are just one piece. So clever, so simple but so effective, sparkles without sequins – amazing!
There were pops of colour throughout the collection but a base of fawns, tweed, hues of green and a golden mustard as well as a dash of blue, pink and orange in there to awaken the senses.
The Antoni & Alison Autumn/Winter 12 collection really wowed, it felt like a childs playbox, mashed up to create an adults playground of beauty and opulence in the simplest form.
