London Fashion Week+end: Embellishment Whites

Before the MAN (Topman) show at the Royal Opera House.

This is a very British quite eccentric outfit, which I think really represents the youth of today.  The jumper for me is obviously the focal point, I had to add some close up details which you can just about see, I hope.  The rawness of the whole piece is fabulous, that running stitch holding some dismembered appliqué carton motifs to the jumper is very artistic and thought-provoking, for some at least.  The coloured wool sewn on freehand makes it look like the jumper grew the stitches on itself to try to patch itself together.

A totally different kind of embellishment to what you would instantly think of with beads or feathers.  The jumper is by Noki, an artist who works with customizing garments as a statement against mass production.  He reworks second-hand clothing a lot of which is branded with iconic logos, and creates one-off pieces that are totally eco-friendly.   This idea of each garment being unique is similar to the essence of couturiers’ where each item is made specifically to fit one person so they can keep and cherish it for a long time.  A fantastic idea for the throwaway society we live in today, which anyone with an old or unloved piece of clothing can recreate.  It is a kind of upcycling method, where you can merge various items of clothing to form one or perhaps make unused clothes or even other materials such as curtains to make something new like cushions, throws… also handy if you want to save some pennies.   That way you will also have your own couture piece, which you have actually created yourself.  I have linked Nokis website, perhaps it will give you some inspiration for your upcycling with a rough-and-ready touch.

{All images by Alexandra Textiles}

London Fashion Week+end: Cable Whites

A-symmetric hem line makes this oversize jumper almost looks like a cardigan which has been turned sideways.  That could be an interesting idea to explore for designers, but here it is in the form of my beloved turtle neck.  Thick and thin cables sit side-by-side in a-mix of ladders, moss stitch and rib.

Simple cable running down each side of this relaxed pullover, give it a bit of definition.

Little twist pattern all over this poncho add some texture, but the winner here is clearly the elongated fringing draping around the ends, which make this potentially plain poncho into something fun.  Yet another a-symmetric hem maybe that is the new direction knitwear is taking; I like it.

{All images by Alexandra Textiles}

Leutton Postle A/W 12 is a Picasso

A second slightly surreal Autumn / Winter 12 collection from Leutton Postle this Central St Martins duo.  The beautiful friendship between Sam Leutton and Jenny Postle is portrayed in each knitwear piece throughout the collection.  Quite literally so, with almost Cubist portraits adorning some luxurious sweaters and dresses, and in the form of masks on some models faces.  Whilst the mixed media decorations such as bobble fringing, 3-D woolly hair, patchwork and appliqué textures painted a unique picture unrestricted by trends.

The simplicity of the silhouettes made them easily wearable, unique and invitingly comfortable, exactly what you need these winter days.  Sweaters, v-necks and pullover vests were knitted the perfect length ready to be worn at any time without worrying about the rest of the outfit, as a single piece could easily form your outfit.

The collection is a crafted work of art, the only face anyone can pull when they see it is a very smiley one.

 

{All images by Alexandra Textiles}

Pringle A/W 12: Knitwear Highlights

 

Alistair Carr has certainly taken Pringle by the hand this Autumn/Winter 12 collection.  Each piece from this collection can easily be integrated into any wardrobe.  With fluro-intarsia cardigans and v-necks, dresses gorgeously contoured with ridges and ruffles and my personal favourite the polo necks.  Just because I am slightly addicted to wearing them when it’s cold, and as I am currently living of Day & Night Nurse I can’t praise them enough.  These delightfully warm crew neck extensions which make all the difference (I am talking about polo necks) featured greatly in the show in various sweater styles, as a base for layered outfits and on the dresses.   These Alaïa-esque polo neck dresses finished the show, with a perfectly warm and sexy touch.

{All images by Alexandra Textiles}

London Fashion Week: Boys & Girls

{All images by Alexandra Textiles}

Snow Lilly

Loden is the name given to a wool binding process which has a deep heritage dating back to somewhat 500 years ago from the Austrian mountains.  This tradition has been past on through generations and has been applied by Lilly Marthe Ebener to create these delicate yet totally snug pieces which are easily positioned into any wardrobe.  The clean shapes of in the cardigans and jumpers are perfect for the current milder winter days; the wholesome luxury which they ooze would make any outfit look like effortless decadence.

[Images via Lilly Marthe Ebener]

A Good Russet Apple

I’m no stranger to an apple or two, if it keeps the doctor away than it can’t be all that bad.   Over the years I have had the pleasure of tasting every apple available on the supermarket shelf and picking my own in various locations around France and Britain, not on special trips to some sort of apple picking farms but mostly at the side of country roads and woodland where wild apples grow.  So over some time I have become a bit of an apple connoisseur you could say, with some wild varieties being my favourite, but lately as I am spending a lot more time around building than trees, I have grown to love some of the supermarket varieties.  Firstly I always buy British, to support our farmers and because they are generally fresher and tastier.  Recently on my quest to eating healthier I have grown keener and keener on the Egremont Russet apple, so much so that I refuse to eat any other apple whilst these wonderful, rusticoated apples are in season.

Enough about apples, lets crunch on to Ipek Arnas who herself is not a stranger to fruit and cosy country scenes. Although she prefers to put them on her knitwear, rather than drone on about it in a blog.  Her delightfully quirky collections are playful with an à la retro touch.  She mainly uses hand knitting techniques for these limited pieces, which in part I am guessing is why her collection is called 2TERS1DUZ, translating “Knit 1Perl 2” the basic hand knitting stitch. She lives in Turkey which is where her things are produced, and where she does freelance work for other designers and yarn companies.  This tasty treat is not going out of season.

[Images via 2TERS1DUZ]