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SS18; Major Moment | Mary Katrantzou
It is absolutely no surprise that Mary Katrantzou makes my Major Moment list for the London Spring-Summer shows; she’s been here before!
This designer has been tremendously consistent and creative with all her showings, and this collection is no exception.
If you have been following my blog, you’d probably know by now that I enjoy cohesive collections that employ a variety of fabrics, silhouettes, and techniques, all while maintaining a sense of whimsy.
Fashion should be fun!!
And Katrantzou definitely is an example of that!
Her early collections were chock-full of trompe l’oeils and while her aesthetic has matured, she still maintains a very optimistic, escapist, and graphic approach to design.
Just look at her past two collections, one inspired by her Greek heritage, the other by Disney’s Fantasia?? [like what??]
I mean, it just invites one to wonder who? what? how?! does she conceive these works of art??
But creativity – which Katrantzou undoubtedly has – is just one piece of the puzzle.
The other is taste.
Oftentimes taste level is overlooked, but it is quite the skill for a designer to be able to edit and – very importantly – elevate their vision especially when it’s rooted in seemingly childish references.
Kantrantzou has shown she has both.
Her starting point for Spring was a collection of toys and games she played with as a child.
“I’m an 80s baby!”
Sporty, modern nylon rainwear, Hama beads, Lego-inspired fabrics, and colorful paint-by-numbers all done in voluminous proportions.
And of course, the ever expected, “florals for Spring.”
Nonetheless, this combination of textures and techniques is what fashion is all about!
Katrantzou seems to be a very “the world is your oyster” kind of designer, synthesizing so many unexpected references and producing smart, chic clothing that is also visual fodder for editors and stylists alike.
And trust, it ain’t easy!
The ‘Queen of Prints’ has done it again…and again and again.
I cannot wait to see what her creative mind is cooking up for us in the future!
See the rest of the collection here.
Enjoy!
xx
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