February 18, 2023 |
For the last two decades, Fashion East has cemented its place as one of London Fashion Week’s hottest tickets. Lulu Kennedy’s talent incubator has nurtured the best of British talent, from Jonathan Anderson and Simone Rocha, to Martine Rose and Craig Green. The three designers showing this season are set to have their own star-studded futures.
Michael Stewart and his brand Standing Ground were a standout. His sculpted, evening dresses – often fashioned from jersey – give their wearer goddess-like qualities. He engineered column dresses with jutted hips, chiseled away at floor-skimming overcoats to define their waists, and draped sugary pink velvet along the natural contours of the body. Expect some A-list dressing from him in the coming months.
Johanna Parv, this season’s newbie and freshly announced LVMH Prize semi-finalist, has shaped her brand on multi-functional garments equipped to dress inner-city commuters. Her clothes are at once practical and elegant. Technical skirts can be tucked away in one swift motion to allow movement whilst cycling, and harnesses built within garments form cubby holes for your handbag for when you’re on the go. It would be stupid for activewear giants not to tap into her expertise.
Returning talent Karoline Vitto continued to celebrate and accentuate the female form. She delivered artfully constructed suit jackets, miniskirts, and bodycon frocks, pieced together using silver rings that cling to the wearer’s curves in sensual formations. Her deft draping ability enhances a multitude of different body types. Fashion houses should take notice.
Photography courtesy of Fashion East.
