Victim Fashion Street

I love a bit of DECONSTRUCTION and EDGINESS and whilst researching at work the other day, I happened to come across this wonderful label called VICTIM FASHION STREET

The brand is the creation of Taiwan born designer Mei-Hui Liu who is completely self taught and started making a name for herself in the 1990s in the likes of Portabello and Brick Lane. Later on, however, she did step into the more formal side of the industry by completing a course at the American Academy in Paris followed by observing art and design in Italy whilst travelling. 

Mei-Hui Says:

 'Aesthetically, I suppose it’s what you’d call decadent romance cut with a very sharp edge and a dose of haphazard embellishments. People tend to say that I’m one of the early pioneers of the sustainable fashion movement because I was one of the first to make recycling and up cycling a key part of my brand identity. But, above all else, it’s got to embrace opulence even if it is ethical.”

She is known in particular for her antique Victoriana fabrics being juxtaposed against new, more modern ones from recent eras to create this mix and match, deconstructed effect; very rock and roll. Recently, she used union jacks with lace and haberdashery for a real Britannia vibe. Her next collection plans to be eccentric and passionate for AW12. 

Chanel Resort 2013

Starting with the eloquent Versailles in Socialist France as a theme, Karl Lagerfeld continued his Chanel Success story by injecting a MODERN DAY MARIE ANTOINETTE appeal into his Resort 2013 Collection. He is the only one I know who could take such an elegant theme and juxtapose it with a HIP HOP edge and what can be described as PASTEL PUNK ROCK.It takes a genius to convey so many ideas and yet complete a collection that is still true to a brand, has a strong aesthetic and is still conceptually clear. 

So how did he ensure all these ideas came together perfectly ?

Lagerfeld took Eighteenth century details and casualized them. He looked into new ways to develop them with fabrics you wouldn't expect for such an elaborate theme such as CHAMBRAY AND PLASTIC.

At the same time, it was still incredibly FEMININE, THEATRICAL AND BALLERINA LIKE. With his presentation at the famous fountains, it was definitely a pleasing day for the fashion crowds and Lagerfeld once again excelled himself. 

Claire Barrow

When flicking through Glamour magazine I came across an article about Graduate Fashion Week which I am attending on Sunday 10th June. The name 'Claire Barrow' came up as a one to look out for having apparently being influenced by Street art  and gang culture to design leather pieces and this immediately sparked my curiosity. I've always been interested in designers that can interpret graffiti culture in a way that looks stylish and tasteful.  Not only is she a one to watch but fans of her work include Rihanna and Jessie J .

Claire paints the designs onto the leather and has become a sensation in the fashion industry, alluding back to true British Punk Rock fashion. 

Bekah Jenkins as a Sea Siren in Flare Magazine

This shoot is responsible for making me excited about my ocean fashion theme for going back to uni and has rekindled my inspiration.

The shorts and the dress in the first two images are absolutely phenomenal and I can't get over them. Designs featured in this article come from Calvin Klein, Peter Pilotto  and Marc Jacobs to name a few. Very excited by it all and very inspired

Georgia May Jagger for Elle Brazil April 2012

In a celebration of all that is British, Jacques Dequeker shot Georgia May Jagger for Elle Brazil in some of Londons finest ensembles to create that punk look that is a huge part of our heritage. Think Vivienne Westwood with leather, denim, sequins and flannel.

Charlotte Free by Eric Guillemain for Numero Tokyo.

I fell in love with this photoshoot as soon as I saw it. For starters, who better to rock the SS12 pastel looks of Prada, McQueen, Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga than Charlotte Free. She looks stunning and the candyfloss dream background of the shots against her edgy look works so well. 

Simone Rocha.

One of my new favourite designers for 2012 is Simone Rocha, daughter of John Rocha. It is fair to say that you do get to where you are in the industry through people you know, but she truly is talented and comes with her own aesthetic and creative ideas that are highly innovative. Her celebrity clientele includes Lady Gaga who wore one of her SS12 designs on the cover of Elle as well as seeing a showcase of the collection and purchasing many pieces. 

Simone Rochas SS12 collection stood out in the way that it mixed technical materials such as PVC and latex with antique lace and tulles to create these really futuristic-romantic looks fueled by her Irish background and craft . It was immediately snapped up by conceptual boutiques from the capitals of Fashion such as Londons Dover Street Market and Colette in Paris. 

Rochas roots stem back to Central St Martins where her MA graduate collection was equally as inspiring. Her collection took tailoring and injected deconstruction and innovation to produce a brand new take on classic design. Rocha stunned crowds then and has continued to grow in creativity and strength from season to season.

In AW11/12 Rocha took the high street by storm too by collaborating with Topshop on a six piece collection so her intrigued fans could still get the look on a budget. Again, her allude to tailoring was noted with a modern twist. Simone Rocha can be added to the list of those designers who truly lead and aspire to bring something new and interesting to the industry.