Posted on by susie

Bowlin’ It

Grazia got the big reveal this week on the full Mary Katrantzou for Topshop collection and now the images will most likely spread wildfire in a similar fashion to the bowl dress that was somewhat leaked back in October.  The incredulous reaction isn't of course over the fact that Mary Katrantzou has done a collaboration for Topshop but that it is so full and rich and in someways ever closer to her mainline collection.  I got to roadtest the collection a couple weeks ago but due to a technical glitch with my SD card, the only pics that I have are of the stand out bowl dress.  That's somewhat fitting seeing as it is the piece that got me incredibly excited initially, and the bulk of the pics I did here were about getting that extreme shape and saturated colour and print out into the "real world" of N7 in Holloway and dressing it down so that it seems that the bowl skirt with gold fish swimming around on it, feels like the most natural thing in the world.  Which it was.  Nobody batted an eyelid, other than at the fact that I was bare legged on a freezing day.  It was a perfect pitch of exhuberance that is exactly the sort of outfit you'd want to retaliate against the grey and the mundane.  The ¬£350 price tag is either scarily good or just scary depending on your point of view.  I'm going with scarily good given that Mary Katrantzou's mainline dresses do run into five figures.  What's better was that this well-shot, well-worn sample had all the neat finishing, print placement and construction, that I'd expect from Topshop's higher-rung collabs (in line with what David Koma did for toppers).

The technical glitch might have resulted in a post entirely focused on this bowl dress but looking at the other pieces – the printed satin trousers, the slubby tees, the buttoned up chiffon shirts and leggings – they're all no-brainer print-on-print pieces.  It's the sort of stuff where you'd want to buy two or more pieces so that they're naturally go together in a sea of florals that are very distinctly Katrantzou, despite their casual shapes.  

Apologies if I've subliminally or not-so subliminally sent out the message that everyone needs a satin bowl shaped dress adorned with flora and fish in their lives.  Look into my eyes, look into my eyes… get yourself bowled up come February 17th when the collection drops.

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(Worn with vintage gem-encrusted jacket, Mother of Pearl navy leather parka, Monki floral parka and Prada pink jumper, J.W. Anderson bearded shoes throughout)

53 Replies to “Bowlin’ It”

  1. I was just checking out the pics on the Topshop website and am UBER excited about this! So jealous you have the bowl dress already 😉 Loved it with everything you teamed it with! Just wondering what my chances will be like of actually securing a piece, hopefully not too bad 🙂
    xx

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  7. Sooo good!! I do wonder what it’s like to sit down in though.. Adore it with the grey marl tee and floral jacket and the supermarket shots are amazing!!! Sadly I wont be able to afford it, but wish I could! xxx

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  8. I think this collection is fantastic. Very much in Mary’s spirit so the common fashionista can really get the taste of the real deal. The prints are amazing and I can see myself wearing the silk dress and the blouse. Still with a ¬£150+ price tag so I probably won’t be able to afford it but I’m looking forward to seeing some brave print on the streets of London this spring.
    missredsocks.blogspot.com

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  12. I love the shots in the corner shop. Mary Katrantzou is one of my favourite designers and I’m happy that she’s collaborated with Topshop. Once the collection has launched it will be just like the Christopher Kane gorilla dress all over again.

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  17. Ms. B and Katrantzou, forgive me but I may swoon. What a divine combination. I hope they (Topshop) just cuts the crap and gives you the whole collection. That is a match (hah, pun not intended!) made in heaven. Love this

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  19. I’ve seen the pictures of this collection, but it’s somehow more breath taking to see them on someone real (not that models are fake but you know wat I mean). My favorite is the one with he leather jacket, showing of the dresses perfect shape and constrasting appropriatly with it’s exuberant colorfulness.

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  22. Love the images! Susie gets the bus….really? The colors and prints are amazing they reflect so well in that corner shop. Mary K has it going onnnnn!

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  23. Wow, I love the dress with the Monki floral parka. I love the idea of Mary Katrantzou doing a more reasonably priced collaboration, but one that maintains good quality, unlike many of the collaborations that we’ve seen with Target and H&M. I can’t wait for the collection to hit stores…

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  28. This is the one piece that I am SO SO excited about, remember seeing the oics on twitter and then reading all about it on your blog, this highstreet-collaboration is definitely one that comes so unbelievably close to the mainline collection! you look lovely in it, love it teamed with the chunky knit in the last shot XX

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  36. What a nice change to see the dress in the “real world”. Just curious, how tall are you, Susie? (Being the shorty that I am, I feel like the dress will likely hit lower on the leg for me.) And did you find you had to be more careful when you sat down with this dress?

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  37. What a nice change to see the dress in the “real world”. Just curious, how tall are you, Susie? (Being the shorty that I am, I feel like the dress will likely hit lower on the leg for me.) And did you find you had to be more careful when you sat down with this dress?

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  38. What a nice change to see the dress in the “real world”. Just curious, how tall are you, Susie? (Being the shorty that I am, I feel like the dress will likely hit lower on the leg for me.) And did you find you had to be more careful when you sat down with this dress?

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  39. What a nice change to see the dress in the “real world”. Just curious, how tall are you, Susie? (Being the shorty that I am, I feel like the dress will likely hit lower on the leg for me.) And did you find you had to be more careful when you sat down with this dress?

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  43. The last combination is my favourite – that Prada jumper completes an outfit of some of the most amazing brands out there today! Topshop is so clever to have supported all the right people from the very start, I want to know who’s behind their decision-making! You’re right about the price – a little steep for something still sporting a Topshop label, but it’s so close to the real thing it just about makes sense, and the print is absolutely incredible anyway. Hope you’re having fun in NYC, if I was there right now you’d probably find me in Thom Browne rather than any of the shows at NYFW!
    P.S. do you live in Islington as well?!

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  45. I saw the Grazia spread, but this is so much more beautiful on. I especially love the pairing with the OTT cardi – they were made for each other!
    Bug @ Bugwear
    xx

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  47. i LOVE your dress and that leather jacket..and that pink cardi as well actually. I think I would like all of them thank you. xx

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  50. I just got her scarf! I’d have loved the dress but i’m on a student budget. lovely dress you scored there!

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