Modus Dowal Walker

Backstage at the Etro SS08 Women’s Show

Clockwise from left: Looks and accessories ready for arrival of models, Sam McKnight and team in action

Models arrive at Etro from the previous show. Glitter on their faces and wet look gel in their hair. A challenge for the hair and make-up teams to turn them from 80’s club kids to mermaid chic in time… Runway report to follow.

Fashion, Milan and Runway Shows

Milan Fashion Week - Bally SS08 Women’s Collection

Lounging in Via San Rocco... Presenting the new collection at the Bally showroom.

We start the day at the Bally showroom where the SS08 Women’s collection is being presented.  Beautiful flowing silk prints adorn the models reclining salon-like in waiting for the international press.

This is Brian Atwood’s debut collection for Bally as Creative Director and it hit the right note with a sophisticated and feminine collection. I am lusting for the nude suede clutch and the most amazing tangerine croc sky scraper sandals with gold and cork heels. Our other favourites include a gorgeous chiffon Morroccan print dress and a quilted patent suede-lined shoe carrier - the ultimate travel accessory for the discerning traveller!

Brand events, Fashion and Milan

The End of London Fashion Week, and the End of an Era for Modus

L-R: Narmin discusses the availability of standing tickets at the Giles Deacon show, Ms Mohammadi takes her applause

So farewell then London Fashion Week.  It’s been fun, and we can’t wait to see you again next year, but for now, its arrivederci London and hello Milan.  The team jets off to Italy on Sunday before the dust has even settled. 

What was our highlight of the week?  Prince at Matthew Williamson?  Nicole Kidman’s film for Antoni & Alison?  Difficult to say; each show was unique, each designer revealed amazing pieces of work worthy of great applause and marked this season as one of London’s most successful Fashion Weeks for years.

The end of London Fashion Week also draws to a close a very important period for Modus too.  We bid a sad farewell to someone many of you will know – Narmin Mohammadi, our Fashion Director is leaving us to hit the hippy trail for an extended period of glorious footloose and fancy freedom, and maybe a little bit of Yoga.  We’re all very jealous, but we’re also heartbroken that you’re going; the place won’t be the same without you.

Fashion and London Fashion Week

Antoni & Alison Are Brilliant Geniuses

And though stated by themselves, who on earth are we to disagree?

Antoni and Alison, fashion’s quintessential celebrants of Britishness and uniquely British eccentricities celebrated their twentieth anniversary as a creative duo today with a special birthday film screened once and once only at the Curzon cinema, Mayfair.  As Alison said “like a birthday present can only be opened once, this film will only be shown once”.

Starring none other than Nicole Kidman, the film showed an intimate look at one woman getting ready to go to the party (and in the process revealing their entire new season collection).  The cinema was awash with a rainbow display of party balloons, and boxed iced birthday cakes for everyone and the foyer decorated with typical Antoni & Alison artifacts from the film displayed in a “cabinet of curiosities”.

Brand events, Fashion and London Fashion Week

Giles Deacon SS08 Show

One of the hottest tickets of fashion week, Giles Deacon’s show was keenly anticipated.  Jess Cartner-Morley writing for the Guardian summed up Giles’ show perfectly:

The buzz around his name ensured that Giles Deacon’s show in Shoreditch was packed sardine-tight. His non-appearance at the previous night’s white tie V&A gala, held to open the museum’s new exhibition of classic couture, suggested he was feeling the pressure, but he rose to the occasion with dresses which managed to look both delicate and hot-blooded, like ballerina costumes for a particularly passionate pas de deux. Hats appliqued with flowers made from swimcap rubber, dresses fringed with thousands of elastic bands, and cocktail dresses with their corset boning sewn onto the outside dressed up a collection based around a 1950s silhouette: cute off-the-shoulder neckline, nipped waist, full skirt.

Fashion, London Fashion Week and Runway Shows

Nathan Jenden Show SS08

Nathan Jenden’s SS08 show took place today at the famous   East End boxing venue, York Hall. To quote Dolly Jones at Vogue: “Skirts layered up in petticoats of unhemmed cotton and drawn into intricately folded bodices, fitted, finely tailored boating jackets, huge fuchsia sashes on full white dresses and sweetly ruffled white tunics.”

Fashion, London Fashion Week and Runway Shows

Matthew Williamson 10th Anniversary Show

One of the highlights of fashion week so far has got to be the surprise appearance of Prince performing live at the 10th anniversary Matthew Williamson show.  Prince started singing from his front row seat, and then stepped onto the catwalk joining his backing singers and dancers.  What a way to start a show!  And how do you top that?  With a fantastic collection of Aztec feel and tie-dye dresses and a plethora of ruffles and beading.

Fashion, London Fashion Week and Runway Shows

Erdem SS08 Show

Staged at Il Bottaccio on Grosvenor Place Erdem’s collection fused femininity with coloured stripes and the ever present Erdem chiffon and lace.
50’s motorcycle jackets, Baltic peasant scarves and 80’s French vogue, it was all about contrast and placing things that wouldn’t normally fit together to create a stunning look.

Fashion, London Fashion Week and Runway Shows

Sinha Stanic SS08

Sinha Stanic showed their Spring Summer 2008 collection today at the Royal Academy of Arts. Colours based around African tribes including vivid turquoise and massai red were combined with shape and movement inspired by New Fashion Japan produced a slick collection with graphic shapes and a rock ‘n’ roll vibe.

Fashion, London Fashion Week and Runway Shows