Tuesday 23 February 2010

Tues 23th Feb: New Gen - Mary Katrantzou





For the first time Mary has gone 3D direct on her surface pattern and wants to brandish the departure before she is tagged with the graphic print title for the rest of her career.  She wants to subvert her own symmetrical statement and has done so by layering lace and jewels between motif panels.   Her "thematic" approach has investigated paintings from the 18th Century this season, in particular Madame de Pomadour.  She visited the National Portrait Gallery and trawled reference books to mimic the painterly quality in her new prints by collaging exciting elements.  The collection is split in 3 compartments ......
a)  Officers and their medals (as seen here in trompe l'oeil print)
b) The embellished resplendent dresses worn for grandeur to signify social status in the paintings  (implemented with the lace, frills and bows)
c)  Snuff boxes (interpreted with the crystals, jewels and jewellery)

Mary wanted to decode the dress history of decadence and pair it down to be wearable for the modern edgy woman.  For those of you that have desires to purchase these pieces but perhaps not the paycheck to do so, keep faith.  The power that is Top Shop has commissioned Mary to design a range of accessible t-shirts, shifts and a brilliant bodysuit!  It launched on the 18th to mark the start of LFW in store and is available to be snapped up NOW.

Thanks to Mary for sitting down to explain this all to me with her generous kind nature...........of course this was made possible by her mum standing in and looking after her New Gen exhibit..........the most famous mother of fashion week..........quite frankly, I would be extremelydisappointed not to see her appointed this task for a subsequent season...........its become an institution!

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