>> Whilst other 'proper' journalists are formulating trends, stories and ideas at the new seasons S/S 11 press days, I'm bumbling around drawing up "To Buy in the Near Future" lists and squawking "Oh that's SOOOOO cute!" every now and again. This was pretty much the gist of proceedings at the Liberty press day until I spotted this particular dress from Antopodium's S/S 11 collection. I did do the "It's CUTE!" squawk but upon looking closer at the print, it maintained it's cuteness level but shot up in the randomness stakes. There are flowers. Moths. Ok so far so good. Catepillars? Errr…hands and legs wiggling out from behind. A pair of glasses over furrowed eyes. What are the meaning of all these little critters that from afar look like ordinary blooms or butterflies?
Had I paid more attention earlier in the season though, I should have known that Geoffrey J. Finch, creative director of Antipodium has been collaborating with Craig Redman of Darcel Disappoints for a while now and for this particular 'Hothouse' collection, Redman created four prints inspired by Finch's fascination with the Barbican hothouse that then spawned off into ideas of sensual exploration of his own vision of the Garden of Paradise.
"I''m fascinated by the dark side of suburbia and one day I was in the Barbican hothouse and wondered if there had ever been any swingers parties there. It is all very steamy and mysterious after all. The orchids, butterflies/moths and appendages all hint at fertility. If you look really closely at the print there are few gifts with purchase – so to speak. Oh, and the glasses are mine," explains Finch about the different elements of the print that make up what is a really strange yet totally evocative motif that I'd be happy to have gracing my bod in the form of a cute shirt dress or blouse.
Finch also sent me images of his moodboards which informed the whole collection that seems to give a whole new meaning to green fingers. One particular image summing up seventies sexual freedom makes me think of what that awful one-season-flop show Swingers, which is currently beingly re-run on ITV2, SHOULD have been like.
Here are the printed pieces in action, prepped up with thing waffle knits and sheer polo necks in warming muted tones…
The collection also features Redman's other print handiwork featuring entwined body limbs and dense folliage and are infused with Antipodium's particular knack of getting pretense-free wearablity down to a pat. It might be a hothouse but everything is primly buttoned up, layered in colours and fabrics that are suggestive rather than blatant – an Elastoplast pink, a dirtied mustard, super thin nylon raincoats, raw-edged georgette and glistening micro rubber dots – hints that are dropped but never shoved in your face, which defintiely make this my kind of hothouse
