Amelia’s Magazine | London Fashion Week S/S 2011 Catwalk Review: Elliott J Frieze

So ok maybe fashion isn’t the most eco conscious industry (shallow, us?!) but Estethica is trying to change all that. And, ask as if you didn’t know, it has been for the past four years. Keep up now.

So to celebrate their dedication to producing fair trade clothes for the fashionable crowd they held a brunch at London Fashion Week S/S 11 on Sunday morning (who doesn’t love a glass of fair trade champagne before breakfast?) in Somerset House surrounded by the designers the initiative supports.

And despite starting half an hour late (a room full of fashionista’s sure does heat up) it was an inspiring speech on the perils of how some retailers are bad and some are ever so good. So good in fact that they look after their farmers whilst still making us look good in the clothes we are wearing. Supported by Monsoon, the scheme aims to push eco-fashion to its boundaries by ensuring that their fresh young designer are as creative and relevant to the fashion industry as possible whilst retaining their own creative style.

And a fashion brunch wouldn’t be complete without a speech from the spokesperson; step up to the microphone Miss Laura Bailey! Coincidently the model/designer/writer is launching a collection for Made (by the people for the people) following on from her trip to Africa to experience the work that goes into the pieces first hand. And as a fashion conscious retailer, Made always does some beautiful simple pieces (remember that skull necklace from the Alexa Chung collection) so its no surprise that Bailey has some cute but kitsch earrings and rings to flaunt in her wares.

Illustration by Gabriel Ayala

When they’re doing such a good thing then it can never be wrong. Right!

Blue lips. Lipstick. Even on the male models. Wrong or right?
Well Elliot J Frieze certainly thought it was right when he sent his models sashaying down the catwalk wearing “cool blue” on their smackers. And all only in his second season at London Fashion Week S/S 11. Brave move.

But actually Frieze always packs his shows with a little something extra; last season Jacquette Wheeler and Amber Le Bon were models du jour and this season see’s an appearance from Chronicles of Narnia actress (and muse) Anna Popplewell.

Of the actual collection though I wasn’t convinced. A mixture of Menswear and Womenswear the pieces were part utility and part work wear. No joke, illness models wore dishevelled ties over striped shirts and clashed them with gingham dirndl skirts all in a palette of “powder shades of lemon and blueberry sherbet, medications hard boiled peppermints coupled with vibrant shades of fruit nougat for trimmings.” All a bit too saccharine for my liking. Top that off with a male model in a cropped powder blue jacket and something was not quite right.

Although Frieze did pull it back with his classic tailored trench coats and dresses; something of a speciality due to his known skill of “driving the boundaries of classic tailoring.”
I don’t think it was the aim though to send a model down the catwalk with her dress undone. Poor girl had to keep it together with her hand behind her back all the way down. All in a days work for a fashion designer!

Despite the sickly colour palette Frieze pulled together a collection that was rounded and made sense whilst sticking to his “British Heritage.” Taking his final walk down the catwalk Frieze surprised us all by joining the models in their love of blue lips. Cheeky scamp. But even more surprisingly (for Frieze and us) one spectator felt compelled to jump out of their seat and accost him for a photo before he walked off stage. Even though slightly stunned (and who wouldn’t be…..security!) Frieze ever the professional made the most of the impromptu photo op and posed with his muse. Lets not write off this one yet.
Illustrated by Gareth Hopkins

Of the actual collection though I wasn’t convinced. A mixture of Menswear and Womenswear the pieces were part utility and part work wear. No joke, pharm models wore dishevelled ties over striped shirts and clashed them with gingham dirndl skirts all in a palette of “powder shades of lemon and blueberry sherbet, hard boiled peppermints coupled with vibrant shades of fruit nougat for trimmings.” All a bit too saccharine for my liking. Top that off with a male model in a cropped powder blue jacket and something was not quite right.

Although Frieze did pull it back with his classic tailored trench coats and dresses; something of a speciality due to his known skill of “driving the boundaries of classic tailoring.”

I don’t think it was the aim though to send a model down the catwalk with her dress undone. Poor girl had to keep it together with her hand behind her back all the way down. All in a days work for a fashion designer!

A fashion mistake….not a new trend