If ever there was a surprise at London Fashion Week, it was the Spring 2014 Erdem collection. After building a niche of romantic floral, colorful collection…a turn was made for an entire masculine collection of black and white. I always love the Erdem collection, predictable floral prints and all, but such an unexpected twist has me standing up cheering for a trend I was started to grow tired of after New York Fashion Week (black and white). What happened to the age-old saying, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it?
“Well, mix it up to make it better!” says, Erdem.
Sharp collars and floral beading over shear layered dresses. Yes, a combination I never would’ve expected to come from Erdem but one I’m excited to welcome with open arms. Okay, okay so they have me with the collar. The floral beaded print isn’t exactly original but when you consider the strong roots they’re leaving behind to do this…the more you have to embrace it. I’m not to sure about the sandled birckenstock platforms though….
I love a good feathered dress. They add depth and dimension. To think these are already textured fabrics only makes them that more more interesting to me. So once again this fashion week, we see the staple color duo of black and white move to new depths. It’s like 50 shades of black and white! And I’m no longer complaining given the depths of creativity it’s driving these designers to explore.
Not leaving their floral roots too far behind, Erdem also visits a black and white floral print that’s extremely elegant. They add unique twists to each look like a sheer overlay of a pencil skirt, or a feathered hemline of a top. Each look complimentary but set apart. This my friends, is what Erdem does best.
The only color introduced to the black and white palette are on these two stand out black pieces with a white and yellow embroidered floral print. I’m again loving the sheer from Erdem. Where Givenchy made me tire of it quickly, they’re exploring it in new depths such as as the sleeves of a letter-jacket. If I told you a zipper would find its place in the Spring 2014 collection, would you ever have believed me? And here it’s featured not just on a jacket but a sandal as well.
It’s the unexpected twist to the expected that makes me love this collection so very much. I’m a sworn fan of everything Erdem puts together, but I somehow only love them that much more now seeing them explore uncharted territory. It’s always fun to see fashion houses redefine themselves in a new direction. But so rarely, is it done so eloquently.
See more beautiful work from Erdem at their website.
xoxo
Kelly
P.S. Tons more London Fashion Week coverage from me here.
All photos credited to Vogue.
