The faux seems to be cropping up a lot on the blog but I promise the word, with all its negative connotations isn't here for the wrong reasons. Last time I wrote about faux fur, in regards to Chanel's A/W 10-11 collection as well as the Where The Wild Things Are skirt I bought, the question of whether wearing faux fur, despite all its good intentions, is still promoting to 'aesthetic' of real fur came up. Well, I'm faced with a faux fur collection that seeks to exploit the material in such a way that any notion of 'road kill' doesn't really figure into the equation…
(Pic above also shot by Brendan and Brendan and styled by Pandora Lennard – If you're wondering what the shoes are… I'm pretty sure the chunky boots on the left are by Natacha Marro and the wedges are by Gabriella Marina Gonzalez )
Sophie McKay, another of this year's Westminster grad centred her collection on an experiment with fun fur that quickly turned into an obsession of sculpting with the stuff… she says it best in her own words…
"My collection was inspired by Greek and Roman sculpture and the way that certain sculptures capture beautifully, the fluidity of fabric in a solid material such as stone or brass. After a trip to shepherds bush I impulsively bought some fun fur (the very very fake type!) and shaved into it to create shadows, replicating the lines of draped, flowing fabric. I became really interested in the way that I could create a desirable textile out of a fabric that isn't generally considered luxurious. Further experimentation led me to use sheepskin where I had a very deep pile to play with, which created dramatic shadows when cut. I also suspended pieces of faux fur and goatskin on chiffon, giving the fur a unexpectedly fluid movement which worked really well on the runway."
"I worked with amazing quality faux furs, sheep and goat skins for the collection. So the decision to use fur was an impulsive one initially and further choices of furs were because they worked well with the technique that I developed!"
Already the visceral 'look' of fur is reduced with the colours used as well as this 'shaving' technique which McKay has developed. To add tufts of it onto chiffon create a movement and fluidity which you wouldn't expect with a fur. Beyond the faux fur aesthetic quibbles, McKay has done something unexpected with a material that would at first glance seem limited in its scope. Different effects are created where the shaving can either make the different layers look very rigid and solid (like the pinkish fuschia top half below…) or it can look like it's cascading in a more free form way. I particularly like it in this image below where the layers look very pronounced and prominent, exactly like the sculptures, which I too have been fascinated with their seemingly 'fake' stone folds and draping…
The chunkies used in the shoot are great but I love these fuzzy beauties too…
(Backstage images by Magnus Arrevad)
Amazing!
The skehtses is so beautiful too.
I bought my first faux fur coat yesterday (don’t own any real fur- I couldn’t) and already I have had a number of positive commments on it. It’s navy blue (so can’t really be mistaken for the real deal)
A girlfriend turned up to lunch last week wearing a rabbit fur coat, which looked and felt amazing but it just didn’t seem right. There is certainly a lot of fur (be it real or faux) in stores right now, Melbourne winter, and seems to be selling pretty well.
p.s. the pieces above are quite amazing, especially the pink!
OMG!! those shoessssss!!!!!
http://timeless-is-more.blogspot.com/
I love these pics especially the shoes in the first one! They are soo HOT 😀
fashion-in-pictures.blogspot.com/
the shoes on the first img on the left are Charles Anastase “dungeon” boots I believe 🙂
And I love those furry images <3 makes me miss winter
The shoes and jackets look really cool and fury,lol. xx
This is wonderful!
xx, mikaela
http://framboisefashion.blogspot.com
these are amazing; such an interesting technique, and an inventive use of fur! i always love to see designers illustrations, too, and these are wonderful, especially the way she’s rendered the fur.
jenn.x
venturess.blogspot.com
I like the shaving effect a lot. It took me a while to get used to faux fur when it hit the market, in particular jackets, but I quite like these designs!! The pink dress is my favourite. <3
http://skiepies.blogspot.com/
Ahhh they look utterly divine and delicious!! I just want to stroke the faux fur! <3
We have seen this idea before (eg Victor & Rolf SS 2010, into tulle layers not fur) but this is beautiful! I especially like the red dress with the mesh (?) shoulder strap- the juxtaposition of the delicacy against the shaggy bulk of the fur works so well!
Love the sketches. The fur looks every bit as soft as in the photos. Very interesting.
http://anothercaroline.com
The sketches are amazing! great post 🙂
http://illustratemypillowcase.blogspot.com/
Wow, this is one of my favorite posts of yours in a long time! I absolutely love the collection-it almost reminds me of the Prada fw09 collection last year, only a lot more elaborate with the fur. . I love the pink top and the white fur gown.
The illustrations are SO beautiful.
Looks like Sophie has a lot to bring to the table-can’t wait to see what she does next!
loved the entire collection. very creative and so today. the sketches were very well done too.
http://elenavasilieva.blogspot.com/
and the platforms are just amazing, i’m definitely addicted
http://elenavasilieva.blogspot.com/
It looks quite nice… especally the shoes…
The thing about fur is that its first job was to keep people warm, but whats the point of wearing fake fur if it doesnt have the property of the real one… I’m just wondering… But at the end of the day her collection looks beautiful and you’re right.. some of the piece don’t look like you’re original fur, or what you exoect of it…
http://valentineavoh.blogspot.com/
-belgian fashionista-
Those Gabriela shoes are just, wow…
http://iliketweet.blogspot.com/
x
this is so cool, real talent!
i adore the blue vest and the fur wedges are so fun!!
<33
heelsandinspiration.blogspot.com
Not a big fan of the dresses, but the shoes are amazing!
WWWWOOOOOWWWW is basically how I feel about this!!
It looks like real fur but perhaps even better. Those dresses with strips of fur look so soft and kinda…beyond fur if that makes sense?
http://www.coldcoconuticecream.blogspot.com
LOVE the boots the models are wearing.
http://aforteforfashion.blogspot.com
the illustrations are fab!
o m g, those shoes on the last pic!!! L-O-V-E
This seasons shoes just went wild… but cool..love them
yeah the platforms are def. charles anastase
chisteric did an insane DIY of the CA dungeon platforms thats pretty impressive–
http://christeric.blogspot.com/2010/05/5-foot-8.html
wow, these furry babies are outta control! i am so drawn to the sketches, too.
Woah, I need all of these. NEED. I love fur in all its forms x
the illustrations are GREAT ! 😀
well done to Sophie, absolutely love your work and your illustrations are amazing.
Jenny
xx
We’re loving the fur at Tangent!
xo Tangent Mag
I’ve just stalked those Charles Anastase Dungeon shoes a while ago, and I’m pretty sure that that’s the ones on the left. The first picture is epic!
– Cecilie.E
// http://www.highlydazed.com (Danish)
Cecilie, Lumi, Teen Kitten: Yup, they are Charles Anastase shoes but they are made by Natacha Marro…. he doesn’t have the means to make his own shoes alas!
Wow, this is really impressive. I’ve never been a fan of fur (faux or real) but this has taken a whole new spin that I actually really like.
http://www.organicfairybread.blogspot.com
Sketches R Really Superb…looks So Cool….
http://www.vivamagonline.com/CoverStories_Cynthia.php
THOSE SHOES.
Brilliant post!I’m looking for different runway of faux fur and find fabulous designer.I’m doing reaserch about it and these one include to have a more resource.