Fluttering Away: Holly Fulton AW12

I suspect that Holly Fulton is dreaming of escapism for the upcoming Autumn/Winter, with a bright and cheerfully toned collection on a February day, if also marked with a more sombre black running in the patterns. As a huge fan of Fulton's work I was extremely excited to receive my invite to this season's show, especially as it featured one of her signature graphic prints in pink, a colour I may just have a thing for.
With a base palette of black with white highlights and some silver embellishment running throughout, the first half of the collection was in glorious shades of fuschia whilst the second half saw a beautiful rich blue. Whilst the colour palette is limited, Fulton makes fabulous use of a subtle spectrum of many hues. I really love the butterfly details from spotting them in prints to intricate embellishment in an extravagantly layered collar and sparkling on the spine of a simple snuggly jumper.
The collection is sophisticated and fit for a high society lady of leisure either in the city or the country, working a sleek twinset. The inspiration is somewhat steamy as the Holly Fulton woman channels Lady Chatterley this season. She has run from the rain, sleet and snow and instead found a home in the glasshouses of country estates.
The flapping slitted fabrics found on hems and even sleeves seem to be a fresh modern take on the 20s era, which is of course when the tale Lady Chatterley and the lover was first published, if not openly in the UK till the 60s, which is an era which also seems to be present in the saucy little dresses of this collection.
As well as elaborate glasshouse architecture there is a huge influence of exotic plants thriving in hot habitats in the prints and Fulton looked to Edinburgh's Botanic Gardens for inspiration. Jewellery was made in an array of materials but chunky and the shapes reflect the glasshouse structure with arches and pillars and the butterfly form. I also caught glimpses of dazzling butterflies amongst the models' messily curled and pinned up locks. The bags were definitely worthy of note from prim flat clutches to their casually scrunched up friends and major fluffy pieces. Meanwhile in the footwear department we saw flashes of Louboutin red.
This collection was smart and sassy and I enjoyed the fun of it immensely. It's wonderful inspiration for rocking vibrant colours no matter how bitter Winter gets and the butterfly is definitely my motif of the upcoming season.