September 17, 2018 |
Guests found a moment of sanctuary from the glaring September sun within the serene, limestone floored St George’s Bloomsbury. For SS19 David Koma located his collection within the cinematic cosmos of Pedro Almodóvar, with specific reference to the atmospheric moods of his 2006 film “Volver” and 2002 dramedy “Talk to Her”. In addition, the Georgian designer took inspiration from the assertive passionate expression of the flamenco. Voluminous patent peplums, bell cuffs, fish tail skirts, ruffles and flares all evoked the movement of the Spanish dance.
Although dresses appeared sporadically, a highlight of the collection was the attention given to the trouser. It was a nod to Carmen Amaya, the Romani flamenco dancer who opted for trousers rather than the traditional skirts to emphasise her momentous movements. But Koma’s showstoppers came in the form of floor-length gowns (a first for the designer), covered in mosaics of mirrored embellishments and cocktail dresses covered in a complex chainmail web of plexi-disks that twinkled as they caught the light. It was enough to make you consider taking up dancing lessons or at the very least book a weekend getaway to Spain.
Photographs by Jason Lloyd-Evans.
