Quintessentially Quinn

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(Photography of Dean Quinn's BA collection backstage at the CSM BA 2009 show by Kasia Bobula)

You know it was bad form of me that I never wrote about Dean Quinn's starry BA show last year nor his turn as part of Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Ones to Watch.  The thing is those strict lines of aligned beads placed on structured shirts have since been given much much lovin' that frankly, I had nothing more to say on the matter other than "The Quinn will do great things…" which I still believe.  We can OMG! HEART HEART! over his work all we want but the key is whether he survives these early stages without the stepping stone of showing solo at fashion week.  Plus I was also eager to see what he would do NEXT, after such a memorable BA collection.  

I think Dean Quinn falls in the line of a certain type of designer that London breeds very well, namely from Central Saint Martins, who all hone in on a 'motif' be it metalware (David Koma) or trompe l'oeil graphic prints (Mary Katrantzou) and make it their own. For Dean, this is meticulous beading that thankfully is still present in the second collection which he's exhibiting at Vauxhall Fashion Scout.  Except they're not rigid anymore and by clustering them in masses that look sort of like anemone or friendly hedgehogs (not spiky at all thanks to the teensy tiny round bead at the end of the beaded fronds), there's a movement to the pieces that means there's more to Quinn than just pristinely beautiful but untouchable work.  The pleated skirts, the gathered tulle and zig zag stiching have also helped free up the beads so that these become shakeable pieces that will (confirmed big stockist for Quinn…) be hanging on a store rail. 

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28 comments

  4. whoa! that is just gorg beading work and i would totally wear any of these peices. his work kinda reminds me of a dress which drew berrymore wore to a recent awards show, she had cool beading on her dress which is very similar to this.

  7. These dresses are stunning. I love how the clustered beads look like little creatures. I imagine they look amazing when they are moving about. I must admit though, I’d be terrified of the threads getting snapped and the beads all falling off! You would have to really look after it.
    Clare xx

  9. I do hope this will be Dean’s year. I thought e would have had more coverage after Rihanna wore one of his jackets (see the celebrity factor re: Koma) but he remains somewhat unheard of. I must say I do prefer his graduate collection to what I‚Äôm seeing here. It feels like there is a little too much going on, as if all the details are fighting to be heard which takes away from the ridiculously amazing bead work.

  13. I couldnt imagine mentioning David Koma and Dean Quinn in the same sentence.In my opinion Quinn is leaps and bounds ahead of Koma. (Koma borders on hideous for me personally) I think it really is crazy that Dean Quinn is unheard of, i would really like to see his stuff in the stores so i could get my hands on some pieces. His unique sense of style with both collections really catches my eye. Id really like to meet this boy so i could try make some P.O’S HA HA!!

  17. omg!!! i went to that the dresses were gorgeous!!! Did you see Jacob Kimmie? His ribbon dress was STUNNING
    Hope you had a good time there, i went there to see Charlotte Taylor, her jaackets were incredible!

  25. I managed to see these pieces in the flesh and i couldnt help but touch them, the beading technique on the shoulders was so unexpected and something i have never seen before, loved it and found it very inspiring. However, perhaps less everywhere else on the dresses would have most definately been more, as the shine and extra beading just detracted from what should have been the focal point.

  26. I too managed to see these pieces and was ready to whip the card out, had the purse strings allowed it.
    It was deffinately one of my favourite collections i saw during lfw, so innovative, fresh, yet at the same with classic connotations.

  27. Oh wow! I helped sew some of those together!! How exciting to see them featured here! I love Dean’s work, especially the shoulder beading. But I have to admit I’m not so keen on the zigzag beading.

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