Amelia’s Magazine | London Fashion Week A/W 2011 Catwalk Review: Betty Jackson

Betty Jackson at London Fashion Week AW11 as Illustrated by Lisa Stannard
Betty Jackson at London Fashion Week AW11
Betty Jackson by Lisa Stannard

I’ve always had a personal love of Betty Jackson’s clothes, mind she was one of the first big designers that I got my ticket to see and there’s something that resonates there as an old friend I suppose. Jackson’s collections do always leave me in complete awe too; true they’re not always the most controversial but but that doesn’t mean you can call them boring. And boom out walked the first model to a mix up of Neil Diamond’s “Girl you’ll be a Woman soon” and David Bowie’s “John I’m only Dancing” wearing a fusion of camel (thought it was gone last season well it’s back) and red. Instantly it’s a hit!

Betty Jackson at London Fashion Week AW11
Illustration by Bryony Crane

It definitely was a collection that allowed us to be our most womanly, help full of midi length skirts and dresses in the aforementioned respectable reds (a colour I’ve always loved but never really worn for some strange reason) but Jackson mixed up the ladylikeness of the whole thing by teaming ever look with white tights or thigh high socks. Now that’s certainly not an accessory that all of us can pull off without looking like a doll or a small child but when teamed with a midi leaving just the calves on show (i.e. the thinnest part of the leg) then I think we can all work it. Or try at least.

Betty Jackson at London Fashion Week AW11
Photography by Jemma Crow

Moving through the collection though Jackson showed a different side to the look with 90’s-esque grungy striped knits and fleece jackets. Yep I did just say fleece! Do you remember the ones you were made to wear as a small child walking through parks? Well this is nothing like that thank god; in fact this is posh fleeces in long line jackets but still I say wear with caution, information pills it looks good on the catwalk but real life may throw up some slightly different conclusions.

Betty Jackson at London Fashion Week AW11
Photography by Jemma Crow

Now there was a neutral element to some pieces too. It wasn’t quite a full camel look but more of a darker shade of pale in the shape of mohair coats and cinched in dresses with waist belts. On the opposite end of the scale was the black lace maxi skirts and chiffon dresses and lace jumpers. Maybe not such a practical choice for every day as Jackson paraded them worn with nothing underneath….I’m sure that would be a no so attractive occasion for cold nipples to do their worst.

Betty Jackson at London Fashion Week AW11
Photography by Jemma Crow

Betty Jackson at London Fashion Week AW11
Illustration by Bryony Crane

A definite thing to note from Jackson for winter though is that this season is going to be a bright one. Others have shown us variations on mulberry and dusky pinks but there’s no doubt that red is a key look too. Wear it with pride and white tights with platform patent shoes. Slightly reminiscent of childhood dressing but then maybe that’s why it’s such a perfect combination.

Betty Jackson at London Fashion Week AW11
Illustration by Lisa Stannard

Betty Jackson at London Fashion Week AW11
Photography by Jemma Crow

And of course what would a catwalk show be without it’s celebs; we got ours in the form of none other than T4’s Jameela Jamil who’s quicly becoming part of the fashion A List as Alexa Chung rose to the dizzy heights from the same path. But that girl has the longest legs I have ever seen. Wearing a super cute tangerine mini lantern dress and leopard print heels all I could stare at were her legs. But at least the paparazzi were pleased.

Jameela Jamil at Betty Jackson London Fashion Week AW11
Illustration by Bryony Crane

You can see more of Lisa Stannard’s work in Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration.

Categories ,AW11, ,Betty Jackson, ,black lace, ,Bryony Crane, ,camel, ,jameela jamil, ,Lisa Stannard, ,London Fashion Week, ,Red, ,Somerset House

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