The Weird and Wonderful: Highlights from London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2021
Even in today’s pandemic-stricken times, Fashion Week survives to bring magic even in times of chaos. And of all the Fashion Weeks, London is known to be one of the most avant-garde, with many up-and-coming designers pushing the envelope of creativity. This year, the event commenced its new standard as a gender-neutral event. Officially announced last year, chief executive of the British Fashion Council (BFC), Caroline Rush stated, “Moving London Fashion Week Men’s into LFW in February will continue to de-gender [the event], allowing designers greater flexibility to consider what collection they show when and minimise travel requirements, taking us one step closer to a more sustainable future.”
For a much needed dose of frivolous fun, L'OFFICIEL catches you up on all the best moments from LFW Fall/Winter 2021.
Fluid Beauty at Harris Reed’s LFW Debut
If you’re unfamiliar with the designer, you may recall a certain Victorian-era suit made for Harry Styles on a recent fashion cover shoot. Continuing on with this theme of subverting gendered expectations, Reed’s LFW debut fuses traditional menswear with tulle confections. The 24-year-old Central Saint Martins graduate presented six demi-couture looks of voluminous, fantastic gowns handmade by the designer himself, in both new and upcycled textiles modelled on the same person. The result? A glorious assemblage of opulence and inclusivity.
UK Babes Make Runway Debut
Drag queens Bimini and A’Whora made their runway debut for the genderless brand Art School. “Walking for London Fashion Week as Bimini is a dream come true. Not only is this collection so stunning and celebratory of queer bodies, but Art School is pushing an important message on sustainability in fashion and reconstituting materials that already exist! They upcycle existing fabrics to avoid adding to waste in the industry!” Bimini said in an instagram caption.
Magical Realism at Molly Goddard
The British designer isn't known as the “Queen of Tulle” for nothing. At Molly Goddard’s Fall/Winter 2021 show, the audience took a welcome dive into a world of dream and laughter, with a parade of otherworldly, fairytale-like dresses, all proudly manufactured in the UK.
A Punk Fantasy at Vivienne Westwood
The Fall/Winter 2021 collection from Vivienne Westwood took inspiration from the rococo painting Daphnis and Chloe by the French artist François Boucher, combined with Westwood’s signature tailoring and subversive drape. Repurposing was also a key element, with more than ninety percent of the materials made with a reduced impact on the environment, including a newly-sourced recycled denim and upcycled deadstock—something the designer has done throughout her oeuvre.
