There was not a hint of size zero as the Armand Basi collection took to the catwalk in the Banqueting Rooms at Whitehall, during London Fashion Week today.
With skirts as big as wind-socks, dresses as balloon-like as a parachute in full flight and jackets like tents, there would have easily been room for at least two models inside instead of just the one who was engulfed in acres of material.
These were not clothes for clowns, but the eye-dazzling polka dots in green and pink, orange and red and purple and asparagus-green, along with metallic candy-pink and lime added to the circus atmosphere.
Even when the voluminous creations were in plain black silk jacquard or grey mink, there were electric jolts of colour in the shoes – red and purple – the gloves – bright yellow – and the hair ornaments, which were made from multi-coloured plastic and tied around the head with ribbons.
The designer Markus Lupfer said “I just wanted to have fun. It was about simple clothes in huge, oversized shapes and bright colours like from a paintbox.”
As big and brash as the dresses were, there was one thing the models were all agreed upon. “They’re really comfortable.”
Earlier, Nicole Farhi showed an elegant, tailored collection of belted coats, easy cashmere sweater dresses and embroidered jackets over A-line skirts, in shades of blackcurrant, khaki, grey, saffron and cream, inspired by the Austrian Tyrol.
The theme was carried through in jaunty Tyrolean hats, edelweiss embroidery and Austrian coins worn as jewellery, belts and faux-military decorations.
The theme was appropriate as the designer’s husband, the playwright, Sir David Hare, is soon to present his play, “A Year of Magical Thinking”, with Vanessa Redgrave, in Salzberg.
Photographs by Clara Molden
Nicole Farhi autumn/winter 2008/2009 collection
Photographs by Getty
