Finding Fall Outfit Inspiration in Spring Fashion Month Collections
Off in the very distant past I can remember the last time I wrote about fashion month. It was 2018, before insanity consumed my life, oh, and then a pandemic which followed suit. What a simple time it was, when I could spend hours pouring over new collections on Vogue Runway, planning my future career as a jet-setting fashion critic. Now I look at things differently. I don’t just see pretty clothes and over analyze the designer’s inspirations, instead I’m thinking of the impact what I’m seeing made on the environment. I see names of photographers I recognize from my days working in London and wonder whether the styling assistants have been paid yet. Set pieces and prop styling stand out to me now and I always give a mindful shoutout to the production assistants who sourced the metaphorical (or literal) glue holding everything surrounding the models together. It seemed the closer I came to the epicentre of the fashion industry, the less interested I became with the products themselves. Or maybe I just simply didn’t have the time to be interested. But now I’m back home and back to a familiar speed of life where amongst team project meetings and family gatherings, I have just enough time and room in my brain to once again pay attention to what’s new this season.
Enough reflection! Let’s get into the nitty gritty. As per usual I was tingling with a greedy glee over Christopher Kane Spring 2021 Ready-to-Wear. To me, this man can do no wrong, and this paint-splattered, brightly hued, glittery lock-down art themed collection confirmed this. Pictured next to their painting counterparts, which Kane created this year to keep busy, each look is vibrant and wearable despite his lack of interest in designing clothes during quarantine. Another collection that stopped my scrolling in its tracks was Erdem Spring 2021 Ready-to-Wear. He always finds a way to ingrain an ancient love story into each collection making the entire experience of the show otherworldly, or should I say, other-timely? I’m always transported to lush English gardens and a time period for regal silhouettes. Yet somehow the clothes remain current.
My criteria for a successful collection this season was centered in hope. Does it inspire me for a post lock down future? Are the clothes versatile and purpose-serving? Are the presentations uplifting, diversely representative, and clear in their delivery? I want to feel hopeful for the future, but also shown clothes I can relate to in the here and now.
Allow me to break down the select few collections that gave me exactly what I wanted, and are my sources of finger-licking fall outfit inspiration.
All collection photos retrieved from Vogue Runway
Simone Rocha Spring 2021 Ready-to-Wear
Nobody needs me to tell them Simone Rocha makes stunning clothes, that’s a given. This collection in particular gave me all the feminine, ruffled goodness I ever wanted and allowed me to pull fall outfit inspiration for one simple reason; the fashion 101 technique we all look forward to exploiting every year. Ready for it? Layering. I’ll hold for applause as we all take a moment to stare into the distance imagining the blessed autumn day when we get to layer everything (please imagine me saying “everything” in a slightly creepy whispered voice). This day is nearing and Simone Rocha just served me flouncy layering realness, albeit in a spring collection. I want the goth pearls, I want the platforms, I want the structured shirts, but most of all, I want a bubbly wide neck autumn dress perfect for layering. Simone, thank you for reminding me that I have had this dress for quite some time and it has never been put to work the way it should. Since we’re transitioning this season I’ve kept my legs bare but I do love the thought of wearing thick black wool tights with my Dr. Martin sandals. Mixing structured shirts and androgynous pieces like chunky platforms with a feminine cinched waist and dainty accessories is the winning combination for this fall, I’m calling it now.
Temperley London Spring 2021 Ready-to-Wear
I found myself attracted to quite traditionally English brands this year. Surprised? I’m not, seeing as my second home has been keeping me locked out as of late. And even though it is for good reason (remember that pandemic I mentioned earlier? #wearamask), I can’t help but yearn for the rolling hills of the English country side, the sight of rain rolling down the windows of the Overground, and the inherent traditionalism in many facets of the fashion. This September Temperley London was streamlined, airy despite the structure and tailoring, and met the perfect balance of safe for work, Sunday stroll, and somewhere in between with HOT leather mini skirts. The look pictured below instantly reminded me that I too have a vest I’ve been meaning to squeeze into, a similar white blouse, dark wash denim and a round cross body bag! But beyond the looks, it was the simple studio setting capturing models in motion from a point of view that makes them appear 10 feet tall, that ticked all my boxes.
Private Policy Spring 2021 Menswear
Shifting gears entirely, Private Policy struck me this season with what I would describe as streetwear grunge with a sweet side. I give designers Haoran Li and Siying Qu well deserved credit for producing a collection, photo gallery, and video that encompassed the fashion obsessed generation’s love of the 90s, done with a technological Matrix vibe, and still showing truly wearable street wear clothes. I didn’t feel, as I have often felt with others, that the brand’s purpose was flying right over my head. The clothes aren’t just suitable for edgy Instagram teens, WOO! Mens and women’s wear was shown in solid colour combinations of black, mint and lilac. The spring hues made me feel like the clothes weren’t taking their slouchy, zippered, large pocketed Matrix theme too seriously. Today, I’ve taken this collection as a - mint - green light to wear the monotone look you see below, complete with a pair of slides, just like my friend in the suit.
Tanya Taylor Resort 2021
Tanya Taylor takes the quarantine cake this year for best campaign video. While still showcasing the clothes, she made a strong statement that right now, there are many, many more important things to concern ourselves with other than fashion. So for those of you in the US, this message comes from Tanya Taylor and your friend from the north (me!), VOTE. She proves in the video that it truly doesn’t take very long to exercise your right. In terms of the clothes themselves, I was uplifted by the mixture of bold colours and flirty silhouettes. You know what else was fun and flirty? Her GORGEOUS power posing, champagne drinking at home models, whom each posed for our good pal self-timer to photograph the spring collection. When I stopped drooling over the art and furniture in Tanya Taylor’s friend’s houses, I was hit with a lightening bolt of colourful outfit energy. Though I wish my pleated skirt was metallic pink, I’m happy with my look all the same.
That’s all folks! Another fashion month gone but not without setting a fashion industry milestone. While we all enjoy the endless images of beautiful clothes and rub our palms together evil villain style, plotting outfits to come (just me?), I’m going to take this last moment or your attention to spread some advice. As many of us are likely going to be heading back into some form of lock down soon, online shopping will tempt us. If you do it, remember two things: 1. Do your research on the brand you’re buying from and the impact they make on the environment. If you need help finding ethical brands that make scrumptious clothes, check out The Good Trade, or Re/Make’s list of brands. 2. DON’T send clothes back in the mail. If they don’t fit, resell them or give them away. Nothing is worse than increasing the carbon produced for the transportation of a single piece of clothing. It’s unnecessary and a simple change we can all make to make a huge difference.
Happy fall! Thanks for reading
Em
