A look at some of the London Fashion Week 2021 shows and the designers
This arm of the show took place on Saturday the 12th of June, at the Cricket grounds of the Oval. Actually it wasn’t quite London Fashion Week Live at the Oval, but they put on a good show with a range of different designers, styles, and designs in a splendid array of fabrics and colours. The location was ideal and bright with the most perfect blue sky. This was the covered Corinthian Roof Terrace of the Kia Oval Cricket Ground. Undercover but with amazing open views of London on both sides and the cricket ground in the middle bathed in beautiful sunlight! The catwalk strutting started a bit late after drinks and mingling time and it really was a show to suit all tastes. With pieces from a large selection of designers Gundog Studios, the first on the catwalk if I remember right, Gianco (handmade) my favourite, fun, eccentric, avant-garde and also Aristocrats, with designs inspired by the past. There were influences from all over the world and colours sure to brighten your day!
Aristocrats was one of the designers in the show I knew and like with their harking back to the past. Frills, puffed leg of mutton sleeves and everything romantic. Inspirational and endearing although some of their kids collections (not on show this Saturday), when put on child models gives me the creeps in the way that old dolls can!
On Saturday, they made their mark with Safari looks, men in shorts, a cone effect boob outfit which I can only think paid homage to Madonna. Evening cocktail outfits for men and women, puffed up sleeves in bright colours for the girls and dark for the men. It was a bit hard to know who was showing when, as we didn’t have lists, we were too far back having to stand (press had to stand) to hear the presenter. The models came on in a different order with breaks to allow models to change.
The feature of one collection which really caught my eye was beautifully printed, silk looking jackets for men and one or two for women. This might have been Erosa, Elena Erosa with oriental, ethnic Indian feels to her designs. I believe some designers who showed were not on the lists and filled in for others who could not make it so unfortunately I don’t have all their names.
There was couture too, coats and jackets some with fur trims (plus some without) from an Oriental designer dressed in all black. Doing her hands up, pray motion bow to the photographers, flashing away in a frenzy of rapid camera exposure at the front of the runway; as she acknowledged her contribution and thanked everyone.
Designers were busy but I managed to chat with Bashabe from Uganda. She was clearly excited to be there and told me that her designs were already made up a while before the show, as she works closely with the tailors in her homeland of Uganda and she was taking the place of one who could not make it. Her collection portrayed her roots with inspiring African prints and music to transport you to a far away place.
Brunel fashions if I heard correctly, also not on the official list, was the other collection which had some African influences by way of fabrics. But such fabrics were also mixed with non-ethnic prints and fabrics which always gives a unique spin. Evening-style shiny fabrics became dresses, skirts and other separates.
The show finished before sunset and the blue colour remained in the sky as I chatted to my selected designer and an amateur aspiring Ghanaian model. I made my way back with her as the sun gradually went down, parting ways at Leicester Square where she was off for cocktails to end the day.
I headed straight home, it had been a long day on my feet but at least in a lovely setting!
_
Check out some of the designers at the show:
