Are you a fox or a rabbit? That puzzling question I got asked when entering the Clarides‚ Ballroom this morning to attend the Mulberry AW2011 salon show. Puzzling also the front row on the other side: interestingly, there were five kids seated – and about as many dogs. Holly Shackleton from i-D Magazine, who was sitting next to me, and I had a good laugh. I like it when fashion makes people smile.
Idyll at Mulberry AW2011
The collection was inspired by mysterious inhabitants of the countryside and from rural English pleasures and pastimes. These ideas were translated into a show scene that was utterly English countryside-cute: hedgerow animals such as foxes, hedgehogs and squirrels; trees filled with birds; a wooden catwalk, benches and a garden shed; and plenty of toadstools of all shapes and sizes.
Family affair in the front row
The salon show started off with an excerpt from Roald Dahl’s ‚Fantastic Mr Fox‘ and a long, golden pleated V-neck dress in metallic crepe followed by a flower grid dress in bronze double faced silk. In general, the dresses got longer and come in structured shapes or soft, exquisite fabrics. The refined boyfriend jacket was fabulous, as well as the tillie trench coat.
Glamour meets the countryside: long pleated V-neck dress in hedgehog bronze metallic crepe. tillie duffle in birds nest waxy sheepskin, fox lock oversized bag in hedgehog bronze ribbed metallic croc, tillie bootie in hedgehog bronze maxi grain metallic leather.
Scarf blouse in owl brown finches Georgette, tillie wrap skirt in birds nest jumbo corduroy, tillie patch duffle in mixed materials, satchel in deer brown, tillie bootie in waders green sparkle tweed.
Herringbone was a big topic and the colour scheme ranged from black and beige, yellow and gold, deep green and fuchsia to berry colours. In terms of shoes it was all about boots and wooden wedge heels styled to tweedy woollen creamy knee-high socks. Satchels, clutches and oversized but very chic buckle bags made the accessories and clearly showed the new creative director’s background. But this was not it for the accessories: there were some models walking not bags but dogs on the catwalk, which caused some funny reactions from the dogs in the from row.
Wooden wedge heels
Belted boyfriend jacket in grey rabbit fur, long gathered V-neck dress in birds nest winter flower tulle, tillie bootie in deer brown smooth leather, fisherman dog coat in waders green wool cotton
There were some models walking no bags but dogs on the catwalk, which caused some funny reactions from the dogs in the front row.
Asked by LFW how London was influencing her design, Mulberry’s new creative director explained: ‚London attitude of all general Britishness defines and shapes everything that we are as a brand. From being ironic and humorous, modern yet traditional, luxurious yet effortless, irreverent and feel-good, funny but never try-hard, and locally produced in Somerset yet global in attitude.‘ Emma Hill is definitely doing a great job in every aspect.
Tillie quilted mac in birds nest cotton, peggy skirt in hedgehog bronze metallic crepa, oversized tillie in birds nest quilted leather, tillie boots in waders green sparkle tweed.
Angle pleat skirt in conker jumbo corduroy, short tillie patch duffle in conker mixed material, tillie bootie in deer browm smooth leather, Alexa in deer brown quilted leather.
Oversized poacher in dark heather mixed material, long tillie wrap dress in eggplant feathered friends devour, tillie bootie in red onion pebbled matte leather, tillie quilted dog mac in midnight cotton.
