Monday, February 21, 2011

Best of London Fashion Week

Matthew Williamson FW11

by Grace Gordon

This season, Matthew Williamson departs from his renowned Bohemian aesthetics for the more sophisticated territory of big-city polish. This collection is one for the jet-setting hipsters, as it has its finger right on the most popular street style looks to be found anywhere.

His new direction still incorporates the intricate design details Williamson is known for. A quilted cocoon coat was cobbled together with leather sleeves and a fur hood for a look that perfectly captured the spirit of the fall season. Fantastic abstract prints in repeating shapes danced across his feminine frocks with ease. Armored skinny jeans pieced together different cut-outs for a daring new look. Tomato red pants with the perfect amount of slouch looked so enviably effortless when paired with a pencil-thin black belt. A soft gold blazer with quilted shoulders is the type of stunning jacket every woman should own. His use of fur really tickled our fancy. From fur chubbies to fur trim on jackets and coats, Williamson executed each look playfully. Some of his styling choices were interesting. One silver feather skirt looked muted next to a nude blouse and equestrian-cut red blazer. The real stunner of the show was a mixed print coat that combined black and white checkerboard, zig zags and zebra prints. It was a show-stopping look that played to our love of luxury and our love of abstract art.

As Williamson explores new style and design territory, his fashion ethos remains the same. He continues to churn out wearable, hip clothes for women who want to indulge in their creative sides.