Vintage Academe at Topshop

After a minor tube hiccup and a member of Topshop staff that had no idea what I was on about I found the Vintage Academe talk at Topshop Oxford Circus at 18:15, a mere 15 minutes after it started.

There were people standing and two small rows of seats, one on the end near me totally empty, I wondered why no-one was sat there, tired from work and frustrated from the tube I decided everyone was probably just being polite so plonked myself down to marvel at the clothes and listen to Curator Judith Watt give a thoroughly entertaining and very interesting talk through the clothes on display, when she finished she made her way back to her seat…which I was sat in. oops.

Having just finished a Fashion Curation MA I was so inspired by the idea and accessibility of the garments. Vintage Academe is a great mix between museum and shop. On the course we questioned whether you could have a fashion ‘gallery’ in the same way art has galleries (where works are on display to the public but also available to buy) and Vintage Academe is about as close as you can get.

Unlike a museum the clothes were on a rack to be rifled through, touched and held. My favourites were a characteristically garish Versace pink and black jacket with the signature lion head gold buttons and a royal blue evening dress by Issey Miyake that appeared to be made entirely from loops of ribbon.

Photo of Versace Jacket courtesy of http://www.vintageacademe.com/

They also run a lovely blog at http://vintageacademe.blogspot.com

Bora Aksu A/W 2010 Catwalk Report

Born in Turkey and educated at Central Saint Martins, Bora Aksu moved on from S/S 10 with pale icy blues, cool greys, peachy nudes and flashes of bronze and gold. Silk and chiffon were draped and ruched then strapped down with knitted piping to create a fitted yet floaty shape. Black textured leggings with mesh panel inserts hardened the look for winter.

The collection focused on one dress shape, sleeveless, high neck with darts and tucks creating volume at the hip, a pared down version of last season’s popular lampshade look. Hair was worn in a simple up do and make up was pared down which only served to accentuate the clothes.

Aksu’s keen attention to detail and construction is evident, the mesh inserts, sheer fabrics and a strong silhouette only confirm it. Standing out against the pale dresses was a pair of bright gold trousers teamed with a khaki jacket and ice blue shirt.

The end of the show saw the models walk down the runway in a fierce/ pretty gang, a la the Dolce and Gabbana Menswear show, allowing the garments to complement and conflict like the roses and leather that inspired them.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: A model walks down the catwalk during the Bora Aksu fashion show during London Fashion Week at the BFC Show Space at Somerset House on February 19, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) Copyright 2010 Getty Images

A Menswear Moment

With the launch of The Beatles Rockband game, the release of Dorian Gray, the long awaited opening of the expanded Topman Oxford Circus and the beefed up menswear schedule at LFW the boys are having a mainstream fashion moment.

And, after years of suffering distinctly dressed down blokes it seems that slimline, smart and sharp boys will rule once again. This shape has been threatening for a few seasons now, the male silouette has got slimmer and slimmer, yet remained the preserve of scruffy music scenesters.

Now, with any luck, we could see a return to the sharp mod suits of The Beatles, form flattering double breasted trenches a la Dorian Gray and clean faces thanks to the the Sharps Barber Shop concession at Topman (not to mention the suits, shown above www.topman.com).

The suit, in all of its guises, has been a menswear staple throughout the 20th Century and its only since the casual wear explosion in the 1980s that it has been marginalised into workwear. We are set to see the suit become a regular fixture in pubs, clubs and high streets across the land because, lets face it, all men look better in a suit.