Roving Reporter . . . Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden

The way women shop has changed since the ‘Credit Crunch’ discuss...

We have all heard of nothing but recently, here the panel set out some survival guide tips.
Sophia wanted to remind designers that ‘identifying your DNA’ is important. This means working out who you are as a designer; what is the key to your designs and your brand? Young designers like Alexander Wang are so well respected because you know that although the shapes and quality will always be kooky, his brand ID is so recognisable.
Colin reiterated this by pointing out, that new designers have a tendency to chop and change with each season, as they want to try everything. This is a huge no, no. Handwriting takes time to develop and make an impact, if you keep the strand of DNA running and a core value, people will eventually be able to recognise it, it takes at least 3-5 seasons.

Should the British journalism industry be more supportive of new designers?

Lorraine felt that the British media were far more supportive of home grown talent than our foreign media counterparts. However, Claudia of The Sunday Times Style, interjected that there ‘has to be a good story and it has to look good’, in order for the media to cover it. There isn’t an automatic right. 

Personally I feel that there is a lot of media support for young designers. Though there could be more. The problem as usual is money and it’s an unsolvable problem. Advertising revenue is what keeps our magazines alive, so naturally those products need to feature. There are however fashion ‘indies’ that cater to promoting newer designers, who don’t have the money to buy their press. 

Roving Reporter: Horace

Jill: What did you think of the Horace show?
Naomi: I loved it. It's funny how everyone is doing the whole 90s-grunge thing, when Horace has been doing it for the last how many seasons.
Jill: Did you go last year?
Naomi: Yes.
Jill: How was the show last year?
Naomi: Think Alexander Wang but with a British stamp. A bit more dirty. You're a Horace newbie. What did you think of the show?
Jill: I loved the way they used neon but made it look really gritty and dirty.
Naomi: Totally. At first I was scared when I saw the highlighter pen-coloured jumpers but the styling was so good, it just worked.
Jill: Leather, leather, leather.
Naomi: I know. I don't know what I'm craving more, leather or fur?
Jill: Didn't you love the way they used the blonde-haired, blue-eyed model for the look with the Grim Reaper-like cape?
Naomi: I was thinking that too.

Conclusion: If it's dark, dirty and grimy, the Fash Pack team love it.

Roving Reporter: Ohne Titel

We all know the recession is pushing fashion-lovers to buy pieces that last: classic and well cut are now the chicer cousins to trendy and notice-me-now. That could either work for Ohne Titel or against it. Designers Flora Gill and Alexa Adams, former members of Team Lagerfeld, sent out an edited collection of almost exclusively black tops and dresses, often accentuated with cowl necks, leather jackets and grey or black skinnies. Their garments were certainly keepable, but the question is whether consumers will see them as special enough to buy.


Karlie Kloss shows off one of the signatures of the latest Ohne Titel collection: major black boots. Last season's sheer trend continues on top, and the overall look keeps an Alexander Wang-style rocker vibe.


This impeccably fitted dress - with on-trend asymmetric details and emphasis at the waist - is signature Ohne Titel. I worry for the brand, which I love and which has largely come across to critical acclaim, that this could be copied easily on the high street.


Now we see something a bit more unique: an asymmetric, deconstructed leather jacket. The slash plays with the neckline, and that could be a standout for the collection.


Finally seeing some colour, the audience was treated to an exercise in panelling. I love the necklace-style neck detail, which makes the look more noticeable.


Another of my favourite looks brings the just-right cowl neck to meet a metallic, mid-thigh skirt. I'd envy someone wearing that on the street, but this was one of of the few true stand-outs in a small collection. Alexander Wang, who pulls off a similar vibe, finds success not only because of his celeb/model/musician following, but also because he finds a way to add richness, sparkle or a bit of danger to every piece. In a year when shoppers are guarding their credit cards more closely, that could make the difference at the department store.

Roving Reporter: Alexander Wang

There are few designers who are taken straight to the heart of the entire fashion crowd, but Wang is one of them. Since smashing onto the scene, Wang has quickly become one of the most coveted designers. Hardly ever out of Vogue, or out of the minds of fashionistas everywhere, Wang did not disappoint this season. Wang mainly is loved for his timeless classics. His pieces are never 'over trendy' (though there were one or two key-trend pieces in the collection) which means that everything thankfully can be classified - or justified - as an 'investment' buy. (Yes, that old chestnut!)

The colour palette was monochrome and, like usual, Wang did excellently executed jackets, sleek trousers, great separates and sassy dresses. Last winter, everyone was talking about the Wang leather jackets, and this coming fall will be no exception. With plenty of crocodile-style grains, wet looks, cocoons and biker styles, there is a Wang leather jacket for all.

If that weren't enough to set our fashion hearts alight, Wang's collection concentrated on a fine balance of androgynous dressing, EEEEK!

There was a tailored tux and an incredibly cool off-the-shoulder, double-breasted coat (yes I know - madness!). While shirting transformed into deconstructed/reconstructed dresses, it was just effortlessly cool.

When we weren't close to fainting at the jackets, we managed to take in our next fashion crush. Wang created some incredible feathered and fur jackets (some partially, some fully) which will go straight on our fall wish list.

As with other shows, cut-outs were again a huge deal, with Wang slashing out whole chunks of a dress and occasionally replacing the slashed sections with sheer chiffon.

Styling took the form of The Crucible. It was a totally deep and dark collection with real witchy elements. My favourite piece was a black thigh-skimming dress with silver thread running through. It had an armour like feel to it, but I loved it. (Oh dear, I can see A/W09 is going to be expensive!)

Either way, Wang will continue to be the darling of the fashion world, and the love affair between the top fashionistas and Wang is far from over!