London Fashion Week F/W 2012: Mary Katrantzou

Mary Katrantzou is on fire. With her sold-out capsule collection for Topshop (released February 17) and consistently stellar shows the past few seasons she's been on the scene, Katrantzou shows no signs of slowing down. She's a personal favourite and one of the designers that really gets me excited about fashion, since her artistic vision is so clear. While these garments are indeed "pretty things," they're simply marvelous in terms of construction and perhaps delightfully wild in aesthetic.

The first few looks out on the runway were light in shade - not stark by any means - then canary yellow, red (which seemed neutral in comparison), aqua, and a soft green. Take note: this is the first time she's created garments that are essentially one color from head to toe.



There's a playfulness in this collection, with volume, materials, and even print. Look closely. The yellow look? Pencils. Red? A typewriter. Green? Grass, with lawn ornaments. See also: spoons (above!), forks, clocks, and telephones.

Along with a new approach to color and pattern, Mary Katrantzou experimented with different (voluminous, naturally) silhouettes - godet skirts, soft chiffon, and a corset inspired by Elizabethan England. While these facets could easily make a collection seem chaotic and incohesive, it's actually quite the opposite. Katrantzou did it again.

xox Catherine

Images via Style.com