BFW: Couture Show

On June 3rd BFW opened their doors once more for the Couture show. There was certainly a lot more hustle and bustle in the candle lit church and we were treated to some live music from a trio of musicians. A DJ laid down some housey-housey beats whilst a violinist added a classical tone, and a soulful singer added accompanying melodies and vocals. It was an interesting and eclectic blend of styles that actually made the audience think about what they were hearing. On the back wall of the church you could see shadows of the models and designers, all back stage getting ready for the first collection of the evening. It was great to see this; it added a sense of excitement and anticipation that was only present towards the end of the previous nights show.

Tim Rhys-Evans

As soon as I was settled in my seat we were graced with the presence of Tim Rhys-Evans’ all black collection. He had taken the Elizabethan neck ruffle and added a modern twist. The detail was focused on the upper body and new necklines gave the models a powerful and statuesque look. This is a look I would definitely love to see more of.

Tijana & Mila Popovic - Fairies from the Heart of the Forest

The collection by Serbian design duo, Tijana and Mila Popovic, was a contrasting difference from Tim Rhys Evans gothic collection. ‘Fairies from the Heart of the Forest’ was a very delicate and romantic white collection with only the flashes of lime green eye make-up for colour. Queen Adreena’s Pretty Polly echoed around the church adding to the dreamy atmosphere. I found myself instantly thinking “I want one of these dresses!” Lace has been quite a big trend this season and they had used beautifully crocheted detailing in their dresses. Some of the models were even wearing handmade crocheted lace as head-wear that slightly came over the eyes. 

Studio 805
 

We were then treated to the only menswear couture collection of the night from Studio_805. The models walked down the catwalk in quite a menacing manner with Mickey Mouse style ears and garments that reflected quite a dark theme. The garments were in black and white and had quite a strong sportswear / S&M look.

Hayley Lai

Hayley Lai took inspiration from Star Wars for her BFW collection. Her garments had dimensional, futuristic, geometrical shapes. Hayley Lai had also stated that Katy Perry and Kanye West’s music video "ET" was also an inspiration to her in terms of styling. 

Masato

The Masato collection was amazing and the more I look at it the more I fall in love with it. It was incredibly stylish with 1940s and 1950s tailoring in beautiful warm tones.

Millie Betito

Millie Betito was certainly another gothic collection but her usage of soft knits and luxurious pleated fabrics was cleverly done so that it added an air of sophistication. Betito used similar techniques to origami to get layered ruffled effects, and I can tell you it worked! This girl has only graduated one year ago from Manchester Metropolitan University and if she is designing eye catching pieces like this now, I would definitely love to see what she will produce in the future.

Alexei Izmaylov

After all these fabulous collections so far tonight, Alexei Izmaylov, was the first to receive a standing ovation from the crowd. The usage of his Club 101 silk scarves was certainly a work of art. His abstract prints on structured dresses, styled with big romantic hair was truly wonderful.

Jess Eaton - Roadkill Couture

 

Next was the designer I had been waiting for all evening, showcasing her 'Roadkill Couture' collection. No one had an inkling of what Jess Eaton was going to produce for this year’s BFW until the day of the show. And I can tell you it was a jaw dropper and made you think about the ultimate nature of sustainability. Eaton had made items out of fur and bones from dead animals that died from natural causes, were bought over the counter at the butchers or even found dead on the side of the road. Beautiful hats from magpie wings and buffalo horn went well with her punk styling. Among her more unusual creations were a hat made from a fox’s head, a necklace made from rat skulls and a cape made from a Shire horses tail. Her application of feathers was the most striking thing of all, however, especially the dramatic array of pheasant and magpie feathers, which were styled with Prince of Wales check, Argyle or latex. Fabulous. Absolutely, truly fabulous.

Edward Finney

The Jess Eaton collection was the hardest act to follow. Edward Finney’s collection was a Parisian wonder, consisting of a black Edwardian dress that had a skirt with so many layers and ruffles that I was surprised that the model was able to move down the catwalk at all! Gorgeous! His finale for the night was a white dress that had purple ink spots dripping down the fabric. It was a great collection but it paled in comparison to the bizarrely beautiful work of Jess Eaton.

Here’s to BFW 2012. I wonder where they will go from here?

Images taken by Jennie Davies from Vintage Owl Boutique

Videos taken by Jo Bowden

(Please ask for permission if you would like to use any of the pics or vids)