The Rattle Bag

After I had the pleasure of interviewing J.W. Anderson for Fashion156 (check out their fashion spreads which celebrates LFW with quite possibly the first editorial styled with AW08-9 collections…), it made me even madder to see his collection called ‘The Rattle Bag’.  My sneaky show on Sunday was to go see JW Anderson’s collection presented as part of Two See’s battle between two VERY different accessories designers, Anderson and also Hannah Martin. 

Russian surrealism, Grigori Rasputi’s relationship with the Romanov family and the work of Louise Bourgeois are all at play.  As I said in the interview piece, it is sometimes hard to take it all seriously when a designer talks about his influences but when Anderson says that the danger of Rasputin to Tsar Nicholas II is implied in the padding of the jewellery in the connection, giving some physical protection to the wearer…. well, I just believe it when I see the work.  Other factors such as Anderson’s attraction to the sinister and 19th century portrayal of anatomical abnomality which I got from his previous collections also resulted in this accessories collection (somehow the word ‘accessories’ seems too weighless a word to use with Anderson’s work…).  What was even more impressive was that Anderson had created a showpiece menswear collection to present the jewellery, taking traditional Slavic influences and adding twists and turns to that so as not to create costume pieces.  Though they are only showpieces, individually, and styled in a sparing way, I could especially see these pieces worn in reality, men or women in fact.

I did think the models perfected a very still stare and did very well not to laugh/speak or move too much.  My boyf did overhear one of the models saying ‘I’m sweating my balls off’….ho ho…. 

Anderson’s resin jewellery was what made me first swoon…

Shellfish shapes and forms were used to represent ‘walking skeletons’, the fragility and weakness shown in the Tsar’s regime. 

Two jackets that definitely aren’t merely just showpieces. 

I’m afraid to say that JW Anderson’s presentation rather eclipsed Hannah Martin’s work which was so very different and was aptly presented…

Note about London Fashion Week: I seem to be adding post-script notes to my posts a lot these days but just to explain that I’m not really able to see that many shows at LFW despite luckily getting quite a few invites as I need to save up my holidays for more personal matters.  Yes, it’s THAT damn full time job that pays the bills again.  I’m hoping very soon that this mad juggling situation will change soon for my sake and for the benefit of those beside me!  However, next week I will be embarking upon a whole new fash territory that is LFW-related which I will reveal later!