New York Runway SA hosted their first-ever fashion show in South Africa featuring a host of international designers who came fresh off the New York fashion week runway alongside some local legends.
The Spring/Summer collections shows eclectic diversity of styles, bold colours, patterns and fabrics. Whether you’re looking at them as red carpet contenders or pieces you might consider for wedding season and the races, we can all agree that each one is highly fashionable fancy draping you can be inspired by.
These are the key features we took note of:
Pop of coral
Coral is said to represent “playful expression”, our “innate need for optimism” and highlights an environmental treasure that is under threat. Pops of coral were prevalent in House of Honee’s collection on a cheeky two-piece shorts and top look, as a trim on print dresses and a mini dress with tulle cuffs and skirting.
READ MORE: Ruffles, mixed prints, leather and more trends spotted at AFI fashion week
Speaking on her design process, Honee says, "I prefer the eclectic approach to define the bodies in a couchant and playful manner."
KLûK CGDT brought the colour through with a combination of bright print and a pastel dress and jacket combo worn with socks.
“It’s everything you need to kick off the summer season” says Malcolm KLûK, commenting on the duo’s new floral assortment. “Bigger, bolder and brighter,” adds partner Christiaan Gabriel Du Toit.
Made for love
Honee artistically blends many media sensibilities and chooses themes that lean on social issues through her work. This was particularly evident in House of Honee’s collection that was accessorised with small veils that have flowers at the mouth area – a motif that originates from a fictitious Japanese disease called Hanahaki, where the victim coughs up flower petals when suffering from unrequited love.
Old Hollywood glamour
The collections would never be complete without a touch of classic glamour. What are red carpet-ready looks that don’t include feminine silhouettes with cinched waists and a baby doll flair or figure-hugging shapes that flow into a trail? We saw fresh spins on the iconic styles in Este & Chlo’s collection of evening gowns and Jacques Le Grange’s celebration of the ethereal warrior.
Henry Picado, for ESTE & CHLO, elevation couture with elegant evening-wear ensembles, including a piece designed for Lady Gaga.
Monster Mash
Monster Mash is a kitsch iteration of goth. Predicted to be a high street smash, the look is achieved by contrasting bright pops of colour or whites with dark leather.
Dubbed the king of leather, Michael Lombard showed how the look can be made occasion-ready with asymmetrical gowns and studded cut-out suits in his collection.
Using the highest grades of leather sourced from around the world, Michael vaunted neo gothic eccentricity in bold designs and says, “My collections are geared to make you feel you’re living your best life!”
He managed to maintain the trend’s edginess through clever placing of graphics and the characteristic lug-sole boots.
Pretty prints
Between Beach Cult’s Midnight Safari collection, the floral applique shown by KLûK CGDT and the African print inspiration behind VanElse’s collection, we saw that prints – even florals– in spring can in fact be groundbreaking.
Additional reporting by Jabulile Dlamini-Qwesha
Images by Mischa Durrant and Johnny Laisang
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