London Fashion Week
Forget New York Fashion Week, daahlings, Glamour Girl is in groovy London—in spirit, anyway. London Fashion Week is going on now. I’m especially interested in the work of a young Scottish designer named Holly Fulton. Take a look at this:
It’s actually made of plexiglass (what the Brits call “perspex”) embellished with Swarovski crystals. It’s all meticulously laser-cut and then sewn—yes, sewn, by hand—together. I don’t know how she does it, but I’m bowled over by the results. The color, the pattern, the boldness—gobsmacking. Here are two skirts:
Holly Fulton recently won the Scottish Young Designer of the Year Award, and this week she’s showing her first professional collection in London, specifically during the segment that’s become the hottest ticket of the show, Fashion East, which promotes the best young UK talent. She also designs jewelry, which, she says in this interview, is being sold at Browns in London and Debut NY in New York. As for her clothes, you can go directly to her website, hollyfulton.com. (Sorry, no indication of how much these beauties cost.)
So much has been done and repeated in fashion, it’s hard to come up with something truly new and innovative. But Fulton has. When I first saw her clothes, I thought “high-tech meets Gustav Klimt.” But that’s not quite right. Fulton says she gets her inspiration from the geometry of 1930s Art Deco, from robotics, and from a celebrated Scottish sculptor named Eduardo Paolozzi. I’d never heard of Paolozzi before and looked him up, discovering that he designed some dazzling sculptures, pop posters, and even tube station mosaics. His works are in museums all over the world, including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, where this ‘50s Atomic frock is a perfect emblem of its age:
All proving, once again, that in addition to beauty, fashion helps us learn something new every day.
(I’m going to ask Fulton how much for one of her creations—fingers crossed that the price won’t bowl me over the way her designs do. If you find out first, leave it in the Comments. Or maybe we’ll run into each other in town, both sporting an original perspex something-or-other!)
Let us know what you think…
Stunning work.
No, actually; in the interview, Fulton talks about the dresses. She says the models told her they love them, the way they flow, the way they feel. I don’t know if the acrylic is combined with some fabric—it must be—or just pressed so thin that it ends up becoming something else, but you can see from the photographs of the models in motion that the stuff flows. It’s not stiff. I’d sure be willing to try it!
Hmm, I’ll keep my distance. I warm up to wearable fashion, not sculpture. Beautiful off, but probably miserable on. Speaking of wearable: Sundance Channel’s 3-part documentary series, “The Day Before,” is a highly enjoyable behind-the-scenes look at three top fashion houses preparing for major fashion shows. Fun, intriguing, revealing, and very real. My favorite: Prouenza Schouler.
Who would have thought plexiglass could look so stunning! People are so creative. Since I can’t sew I thought I could stop by Home Depot and pick up some plexiglass and duck tape and make a new skirt for church. On second thought I think I’ll just let Fulton have this one! Peace.
Once again you have posted something truly extraordinary! Fulton is genius. Will be in London en-route to Italia and will try these creations upclose. Thank you for keeping Baltimore a bit more up-to-date. You are the best!
I may have to mosey by Debut NY to check it out. Those are gorgeous. Probably way too expensive but I’d just love to see them up close. Will report on price if I see one…
keep up with style