Canadian womenswear brand Laurence & Chico established in 2015 by designers Laurence Li and Chico Wang is known for taking inspiration from the duo’s everyday life. More specifically from Laurence’s illustrations showcasing their life, in which only the two boys are actual human beings and all other individuals as an assembly of animals, plants, fruits or vegetables. It is these humourful illustrations that inspire Chico to create unorthodox and delicate prints and silhouettes for their collections.

For this season’s collection ‘Makeup Factory’, Laurence and Chico took their inspiration from their friend Cui ‘Masa’ Xiaohong creator of the Chinese make-up brand ‘Marie Dalgar’. Original characters were created as usual, this time including, Snake Blush Brush, Grape Brush, Ladybug Brush, Bee Mascara and Powder Foundation with Lion’s Eyes.

An impression of massive wigs, reflecting in colours peach, champagne and black, with massive bows on top, framed the models’ faces drawing attention to elaborate make-up creations with rainbow lips, curtained lashes, and multi-coloured freckles. The models were assembled on a set made of green moss hills and pink glitter rivers and lakes.

The collection seemed to present a childlike fantasy world, garments were detailed with ruffles, pearls, giant bows, stripes and neon coloured tulle. Presenting textures of various types from tinsel like threads woven in place on a pink puffy coat, creating a shimmery variety between garments and skin in the chest and stomach regions. Bejewelled heels and boots, satin glovers and pendular earrings completed the majestic yet classic collection.

Giulia Koller

An impression of Angus Chiang‘s Autumn / Winte 2017 collection by Francesco Lo Lacono.

A collection of refined construction and controlled deconstruction that is Claudia Li’s Spring / Summer 2018 collection ‘Dreams – Foxes Live Under the Rainbow’. Presenting a narrative of living with courage, the designer takes inspiration from Akira Kurosawa’s film ‘Dreams’, emulating the Japanese fashion silhouettes and obtaining a wonderful colour palette.

A clear reference are the impressive Kimono jackets, cut in different fabrics. In her collection, Claudia plays with obi belts by wrapping and unwrapping them around the sleeves on a variety of dresses and tops, maintaining her quirky and signature construction style.

The designer uses light silks and jerseys to emulate the smooth hanging shapes of tulips and butterfly cocoons. Contrastingly cottons and denim provide the collection with a sturdier architectural structure of boxy shapes. The pieces are finished off with rain drop-shaped buttons on tops and outerwear.

The collection showcased a variety of beautiful prints of tulips and colours resembling a walk in the park, with the models holding baskets filled with blossoms and flowers. A sense of curiosity, nearly child-like, awakes in the stationed models and the expressions on their faces.

Words: Giulia Koller

Omen collection is the latest part of Bola‘s fashion triptych dedicated to the three time plans, divided by the three, different, independent but still complementary collections with a very personal and emotional character. Designed for Autumn/Winter 2017, it offers a soothsaying-likeforesight into the future of professional and personal life of the designer.

The collage photo session by the young generation photographer Kuby Bors perfectly highlights the collection’s origins, its graphicness and the unique energy of street fashion.

Credits

Photography: Jakub Bors

Styling: Mateusz Kołtunowicz

Hair: Kamil Pecka / Jaga Hupało born to create

Make-up : Kamila Jankowska

Model : Grzegorz Kłębek Embassy Models

Production: Filip Krupa

Shoes : Nike

Inspiration can be taken from a variety of places, so it comes as no shocker that for his Autumn /Winter 2017 Fantôme collection, Malan Breton lay his eyes on Sir Charlie Chaplin and his films to create a sleek ensemble of elegant pieces. The New York-based designer incorporated in his thinking the comedian’s essence and his pledge to bring hope and joy to a time of darkness, linking this thought process to the current state of Amercia and its loss of liberty and creativity. Within this London collection, Breton shows homage to the reminiscence of Imperial China, specifically its water colours and imperial prints.

Breton’s incorporation of essences of his roots through British Heritage tailoring and design details of Taiwanese pagodas, using a mixture of wools, cashmere, angora as well as silks and velvets within dominant trouser suits paired with hats and bow ties round off to create a powerful Malan Breton woman. Additionally, sequin sheer gowns and lazer-cut leather dresses, attract the viewers’ eyes, to appreciate the human shape and form. Enhancing his creative vision further the collection sees men wearing skirts and patent gloves finished off with knee high socks and elegant double-breasted biker jackets.

The colour palette of Breton’s collection covered besides black a variety of greens, golds and pewters reminiscing Imperial China. Finally the collection was underlined by make-up and hair commemorating the masculine aesthetic of the 1930’s with a side parted sleeked hair do and a female glamour 1930’s dark eye look.

Words: Giulia Susana Koller

Illustration: Christy McCormick

Southern California in the midst of the runway and who created it? Tadashi Shoji. His Spring / Summer 2018 collection broadcasts a line-up of vibrant, jewel colours for a free-spirited woman proud at heart of her Bohemian soul with a thing for opulent evening gowns. As the breezy silk dresses with beach umbrella inspired stripped patterns flocked down the runway, one could feel oneself transported to warmth of the Westside beaches.

Tadashi additionally presented monochromatic floral jacquard skirt and separates from a more sophisticated vibe and feel. The hyper feminine gown-like dresses showcased a further inspiration of Shoji in which he had taken the skies of the night and placed them into the prints of moons and stars, reliving a dreamy romantic vibe for the evening strolls.

Words: Giulia Koller