The Shao Yen AW12/13 presentation at London Fashion Week saw the Freemasons Hall heaving with fashion folk eager to catch a glimpse of the Central Saint Martins MA graduate's work. Shao Yen Chen was born in Taiwan but moved to London in 2003 where he interned with Alexander McQueen and and Hussein Chalayan.
This collection looks to heritage trends and also urban streetwear, looking into the ways of the British class system. The tweeds and quilting would be at home in a traditional country shooting party jacket whilst the inspiration for the caps and trainers comes from youth subcultures. There's a definitely sports luxe feel to the garments and with their dewy skin, flushed rosy cheeks and lips as well as flyaway hair the glamourous models could have just been for a, albeit very sophisticated, run.
Whilst elasticated waists and drawstring details have a very practical nature the collection also feels elegant with classic silhouettes and sensual cut out details. Cheerful colours stand out from the black and brown base, and vibrant furry concoctions are playful against more slinky pieces.
The juxtaposition of tradition and streetwear is an intriguing one, and Shao Yen merges the two aesthetics together to create one very slick contemporary collection.
This collection blew me away! In love with that first look, the huge fluffy orange faux fur with the body con black dress is just perfect!
ReplyDelete