There’s something about London that always manages to evoke intense waves of nostalgia. Whether it’s the splendor of Buckingham Palace, the enticing darkness of the Tower of London or the hype surrounding newer attractions like the London Eye or Tate Modern, the line between present and past in the English city is permanently blurred.
So it should come to no surprise that for fall 2013, London’s most innovative designers sought inspiration from days gone by. As PPR’s latest investment and veritable rising star, Christopher Kane’s first 60-piece show was undeniably darker than spring with velvets in deep plum and navy, camouflage trimmed with fox fur and Frankenstein-esque prints reminiscent of the designer’s childhood. Burberry Prorsum’s Christopher Bailey channeled Britain’s female spy era of the ’60s, but with edgy twists like trench coats paired with see-through pencil skirts revealing heart-printed undergarments. Mary Katrantzou, known for her bold off-the-chart prints, left that all behind to focus on avant-garde asymmetrical blacks and wistful postcard prints. And while the former collections may conceivably conjure up longing tears for the past, Tom Ford’s Lancaster House circus of tribal prints and disco details was a beacon of hope for seasons to come.
Click through the gallery to see more looks from these collections.
