MACKI*

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http://www.dontpanicmedia.com/magazine/article/?id=2167

London Fashion Week is notoriously impossible for mere high-street shopping mortals to penetrate. Fortunately, back in the 80s fashion designer Macki was caught in an explosion at a fashion factory in the slums of Mumbai, which mutated her into a fashion super-being of extraordinary power. For this reason she managed to get her whole body backstage for five dazzling shows when she turned hard-nosed journalist-cum-socialite for DP. Here’s the lo-down:

MONDAY

Montage!

The launch of Sexton’s Autumn/Winter 2008-9 Mens and Womanswear collections took place down a swooping staircase at L’institute Francaise in South Kensington. The models glided down a stairway draped in moss green tweed. Male models wore unfinished coats with visible stitches and tailor marks, silk lining on white tuxedos and blood red velvet lounge suits. The female models struck androgynous looks, wearing big collars minus the shirts.

My favourite outfit was a sandy brown check tweed suit, with dominating high-waisted trousers attached to a pair of thick yellow braces – a bright and bold addition.

Working backstage at Edward Sexton’s show was an enjoyable experience. The 40 ‘looks’ flew by in minutes and then it was time to strip down the beauties, tidy up backstage and start preparing for the SuperSuper show later!

LATER THAT EVENING…

SUPER SUPER SHOW

Photography/Illustration by Macki

This style of photography attempts to emulate the hallucinogenic effects of bulimia combined with gin & slimline tonic (just 56 kCal!)

After 45 minutes freezing my ass off in impatience, I managed to get into the Vauxhall Fashion Scout venue. A lot of flashing and snapping as each guest entered, then to the bar I headed!

“Sorry luv, we can’t serve any more of our sponsored toffee vodka… people are getting drunk. Try some of this tangy sour energy drink instead”. I was numb and in need of booze so I took what was offered and searched high and low for a seat near the catwalk… I found one with a goody bag of free stuff!

Hoodies

One of my favourite fashion designers, Carri Mundane AKA Cassette Playa, was sitting in front of me, looking cool. There were many nu-rave fashionistas STILL wearing those fluorescent geek glasses and painted faces with silver stars stuck on. Worse yet: some of the Skins crew were hanging out in the front row…

The show consisted of four up and coming designers: Scott Ramsay Kyle, Emma Bell, Dharma Taylor and Thomas Sel.

Bell’s theatrical collection was definitely the most adventurous, bizarre and colourful in my opinion and Thomas’s ‘domino effect’ catwalk choreography was pretty cool. There was also live music from the flamboyant-tastic band “The More Assured”.

All in all, it was a super-boom-bastic evening!

TUESDAY

TODD LYNN

“It’s that damn Hansel! He’s so hot right now!”

The Top Shop space was perfect for showcasing Todd Lynn’s cutting edge tailoring. Androgynous rock n’ roll style was evident in this sophisticated collection and the key looks included contrasting fabrics: shiny with matte, soft cashmere and crushed patent leather mix with sheep and pony skins. It was a bit of a butchers shop back stage but a stylish one! His tailored dresses and coats dressed with goat fur were dramatic – inspired by the eerie stillness of Victorian taxidermy and Gothic glam.

The models looked so rockabilly with their sleek hairstyles, complimenting the structured tailoring and lizard and pony skin shoes by Christian Louboutin.

Hairy backs are back in

WEDNESDAY

NICOLE FARHI

Nicole Farhi talks about her designs

It was an early start for the Farhi show preparations, which took place inside the stunning Opera House in Covent Garden. We even had time to nibble on croissants and coffee before the show.

Later, Nicole gracefully mingled backstage, being interviewed one minute and then reviewing her timeless collection the next, checking every detail and outfit just before it’s projection into the fashion world. The winter dresses and jackets were beautifully crafted with rich wools, silks and a palette of browns, blacks, greys and reds.

Ach yah! Zat auschwitz look is sooo in zis season

Accessories played a key role, including wide rim black hats over purple silk scarves, long leather gloves with frayed tassels, ancient silver coins on belts and bracelets. Music by Regina Spektor was both melodic and jolly, suiting the collection’s floral and embroidered sense of femininity.

FRIDAY

CAROLA EULER

“A naive approach to luxury dressing”

Carola Euler’s show took place at Sketch in Mayfair, where the restaurant became the catwalk. The male models gradually looked more suave as the morning progressed and they started to transform into a fleet of slick, young hunks. Euler’s luxury collection is a combination of crisp, pleated formal wear and fresh coloured sportswear.

“I was inspired by the idea of what a 16-year-old boy would buy if he suddenly came into lots of money,” said Euler. “That kind of naive approach to luxury dressing.”

And that all folks! xxxxx