This was one of the most intellectually challenging RTW collections we’ve even seen.
To begin with, our gut reaction was …oh, let’s outfit the female crew members of some mechanics shop on board the Starship Enterprise- or some advanced industrial plant as these clothes had a modern, space/futuristic machine age vibe going. And a color scheme of steel gray and black mixed up with a lively back/white/gray swirly print that was one of the best things about this lineup, this season...fed into the theme.
Our favorite part were the amzing textiles. Laing's fabrics were inventive…we so wanted to reach out and touch…including a “Scratch Jacquard” made with Crystallized™ Swarovski Elements that was used in a tucked jacket, a “Graff dress, and a kinda reverse triangle shaped “Pylon top.”
We actually thought about what this young Toronto based designer was up to after the show, and concluded that there are some very wearable elements for a certain retail customer that likes to push things about a bit. A well attired architect, or an art gallery owner, for example.
And we were intrigued by the interplay of fringed elements and smooth leather or wool separates in some ensembles...that showed a thought process beyond the usual pile it on winter looks we saw.
As in past collections, flowing long silk chiffon architectural frocks mixed it up with a zipped skirt with paneled square blocks of uneven lengths, some tunic length tops, and coats that held great textural interest---as in a “Bolero coat in patterned wool jacquard and coated wool jersey”…and a “Zip Panel coat in anthracitie double-face stretch wool.”
Interesting.
JEREMY LAING
Words, Judith Ecochard,
Images from JEREMY LAING’s website