Hurray for Howell!!

The British have landed - thank goodness. This woman has the most beautiful subtle designs. She knows about art, structure, fashion, and design. I think her Fine Art degree has set her up to look in her own way to have her own view without copying the trends, yet remaining contemporary and original. She uses luxury fabrics which suit the structure of the clothes, effortless but make you feel good. People say she creates an androgynous look but I think it's a wearable yet feminine and sexy without the overstatement of the Barbie tag (see how nice the models look). She should be even more renown for her work but I love her quintessential englishness. If Isabel Murant designs with the french in mind Howell reflects on her english roots. I'd love to wear her clothes because they would NOT restrict my way of life.

Irish Influences in Fashion

Just been having a look at some Irish dancing costumes - they would make an




interesting start to some design ideas. Dismissing the obvious decoration (which I know is a very strong statement), or this can be used subtly working around this for ideas for my designs. Lets see what happens? I'll be looking at shapes, textures, trims/embroidery and colours and see if anything else pops up.

spring tasters 2011 Rag and Bone and Pringle of Scotland

Just had a look at a taster for spring Rag and Bone website and the dastardly duo strike again! They show hints of warfare in strapping, strings and angular lines along side the peace and naturalness of the feminine flowing chiffon: The youthfulness of layering and their signature tailoring

of jackets. Bravely, they enter the realms of metallic and somehow make it cool by adding a white trim to some of their garments.

Pringle have there usually classy, experimental and individual look, mixing pinks and red so beautifully and the keeping the little black dress modern and fresh.

Pringle Autumn 2010

Pringle Autumn 2010- Not much makes me look forward to winter but this is very close.

Just looked at Clare Waight Keller’s Pringle Collection Autumn, 2010. Sooo imaginative and unusual. Mixing fabrics, hard and soft seemingly sitting together like they were made to be there. Shapes, angles of straight lines unevenly placed with pleats when it suits and turned back edges revealing the inside of the garment and the prominent zips with no apologies for the flaps shown this reminds me of the architecture of the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, not so much transparent but showing the construction of the building revealing the workings of it – maybe used a decorative feature – I don’t know, but it works, it really works.

What I want to know is why Clare Waight Keller and the Pringle Collection isn’t even more renown for her/their work, it’s not only beautiful but functional. Pringle should be Proud!