January saw fashion freshness all round. The first new role to be filled was at Parisian fashion house Vionnet, following its reopening in 2006 after a 70-year hiatus. Tech-savvy Hussein Chalayan stepped from the shadows, dusting off the debris from the archives, before turning his back on them to create a demi-couture collection. It was also announced that designer Carlo Brandelli was to reclaim his position as head of the Savile Row tailoring brand Kilgour, having left the company in 2009.
New faces were also on the cards for other fashion labels, with Marc Jacobs casting Miley Cyrus for his latest campaign (following the appointment of Roberto Cavalli for her Bangerz show wardrobe), and Prada poaching Dane DeHaan from his Hollywood hotseat. Kate Moss also graced the screens, with a dark collaborative vision with Steven Klein for Alexander McQueen.
It was all change over at The Royal College of Art too; following the announcement that esteemed Professor Wendy Dagworthy was to step down from her role. She had helped guide the likes of aforementioned Chalayan and Giles Deacon to name but a few. “I’ve worked in fashion my entire life, so it’ll be strange not to have a place to go to every morning,” she remarked.
There was newness as well on the menswear catwalks for AW14, with stand out shows from Astrid Andersen, Prada and Dries van Noten; a season where print and colour reigned supreme.
Followed hotly on the heels came couture, although there wasn’t a heel in-sight at Chanel’s sport-inspired collection. Karl had refreshed Coco’s vision of womenswear, offering an alternative trainer that would have you saving up for the rest of the year to acquire.
Credits
Astrid Andersen AW14, Photography Piczo