There was STUFF in New York, definitely, for sure but then I come to London and then there's serious STUFF – by way of Louise Gray which was my first official show after yesterday's complete LFW wash-out (yo BFC tents scary security men, SORT IT AAAAAAAUUT!) and post-delayed-flight jet-lag. What made it more of a wake-up call to the system was that I had literally a second to spare as I sat down and the show immediately began. I know I give a lot of love to Louise Gray but it's always a gut thing that gets my fashion hormones pumping. Still, within my untempered love, I know that Louise has stepped it up for her first show in a few seasons. Her skills in textiles manipulation and creation can be appreciated up close and personal but the effect of it can just as well be seen in a pumping catwalk show when mixed with all the paraphernalia that Louise quite aptly calls STUFF – in fact, the collection is called "Get Some Stuff".
Now my love of the STUFF goes beyond most people's level of stuff-loving. This applies not just to my personal style but also my collector tendancies hence why I hauled out all that STUFF for a yard sale. I loves me a lot of stuff in terms of embellishment and Louise had a LOT going on that within her newly reconfigured ways of draping, knotting in summer-y silhouettes that I know the sun is calling out to shine upon. The combination of materials and prints seems to have also been slicked up so that the collaging is less prominent but instead you take it in as a fully pieced together jigsaw puzzle – one that figures in the following… bleached out prints that go from bright to sun-soaked…
…clear PVC front containing polystyrene balls…
…Indian mirror tiles that are held with neon stitching…
…beading that looks both cartoonish and delicate at the same time…
…things that you HEART for no reason such as neon 'star' signs for those ¬£1 offers in cheapie shops, badges that you thought were great to wear all over your Eastpak rucksack and party streamers that have been unravelled…
Everything is then quite literally tied together through knotting that looks haphazard but balances out the print mix perfectly…
…as well as some tailored and more refined pieces that have crept into Louise's repetoire (in her own assymetric and jagged way though…)
Legwear and footwear gets a special mention for a) the ability to tie on many a fabric swatch into one trouser through holes (and of course…things in holes err… get my vote…and b) Nicholas Kirkwood for Pollini's saw-tread multicoloured shoes…
I'm getting me some STUFF for sure for S/S 11 and I thank Louise for waking me up for the rest of the week…
The pastel heels are highly desirable!
wow these are some of the wildest outfits i’ve seen so far. it took me a moment to realize that the socks are only painted on!
http://7deadlycyns.blogspot.com/
:O i’m so dipping my feet in paint from now on. i love the dress w/ pockets that was stuffed with STUFF!
I looked at the collection on style.com and semi hated it. Came on here and suddenly love it. See the impact that you have haha? But it is really amazing <3 I wish that there was detail pictures on style.com!
x x x
Great STUFF!! I think if I had polystyrene balls in my PVC clothes I wouldn’t get anything done other than pushing them about all day. It’s like bubble wrap… so simple… so enjoyable!!
Charlotte xx
ps) I’ve started following your twitter… feel sorry for your sister that she was accused of being a copycat you! Ouch. I’m @TheStyleRail if you fancy popping by – probably not, but you might be bored in a taxi or something, I dunno.
Wow-those outfits are truly works of art! Amazing blog! Stop by at http://takeoutincouture.typepad.com/fashionably_late/
So all the people who were like OMG MINIMALISM during NY fashion week (but aren’t Theory and Calvin Klein always minimalist?), what are they going to say about all this? Or do the trendsters have a different set of terms for each city? Ah, I just can’t keep up!
This is some of the most fresh/fun/innovative stuff that I’ve seen in a long time, and I’m proud to witness it. Thank you so much for your wonderful commentary.
I LOVE LOUISE!!
Love how fun and quirky this is, I love all the material through the models hair.
xoxo Sheray.
fashionsherayde.blogspot.com
chunky embroidery on mirrors and chiffon = the best. And those cunning painted-on white socks (Bandaid and all) steal the show!
LOVE Louise Gray
i like the colors. and the shoes
Ha! I saw you a few times yesterday oh, and at the on|off Simon Erkelius show.Wasn’t it great!
http://fashionfreakout.net/
I like the shoes.
The colours are not so pretty
I really like it all, very interesting and lots of inspiration!
That’s all lovely! It’s the kind of stuff that laughs in the face of ‘serious model face’, and therefore I feel would benefit from something a bit more interesting done with the actual show of it all.
this is cool! not necessarily my stylee…. but definitely appreciative of the creativity!
http://www.informalthing.blogspot.com