Amelia’s Magazine | Sister by SIBLING: London Fashion Week A/W 2012 Catwalk Review

Sister by Sibling A/W 2012 by Gaarte

Sister by Sibling A/W 2012 by Gaarte

Twinsets, cardigans, and crew-neck jumpers were all over this Sister by SIBLING A/W 2012 collection, but not as you’ve seen them before. One of the reasons I love SIBLING is that this brand was born out of a trio of designers who wanted to give men’s knitwear an overhaul, striking such a covetable and attention-grabbing luxe look that women started wearing the pieces too. Joe Bates, Sid Bryan and Cozette McCreery dutifully provided Sister by SIBLING, the equally loud leopard-printed, skull-brandishing womenswear brand.

Sister by Sibling A/W 2012 by Jamie Chiu
Sister by Sibling A/W 2012 by Jamie Chiu
Sister by Sibling A/W 2012 by Jamie Chiu

Sister by SIBLING A/W 2012 by Helena Maratheftis

Sister by SIBLING A/W 2012 by Helena Maratheftis

Sister by Sibling A/W 2012 by Jamie Chiu
Sister by Sibling A/W 2012 by Jamie Chiu

This presentation in the Portico Rooms was a pretty hot ticket, judging by the intense jostle for seats and a front row full to bursting with fashion editors. Long-term SIBLING fan Laura Bailey smiled sweetly from her seat in a way that only someone who has had a private preview of the collection does, safe in the knowledge of what is to come. I did my best impression of a similar smile of satisfaction as I’d already drooled over this sparkly, lurex, sequined offering from SIBLING in the Somerset House press exhibition room.

Sister by SIBLING A/W 2012 by Alia Gargum
Sister by SIBLING A/W 2012 by Alia Gargum
Sister by SIBLING A/W 2012 by Alia Gargum

Katie Grand’s in-your-face styling definitely woke up the sleepy crowd (who like me, wanted a lie-in and chose the later showing) by mixing acid-bright pinks, oranges, and purples together for a strong visual punch. The most special touch came in the form of face masks that turned models into faceless sparkling mannequins with incredible pom-poms and hand stitched flower clustered defiantly on top of their heads.

Sister by Sibling A/W 2012 by Gareth A Hopkins

Sister by Sibling A/W 2012 by Gareth A Hopkins

The genius behind this collection and the Sister by SIBLING brand is that it’s easy to wear. Attention-seekers can go for the whole look, and those who like a bit of crazy colourful sparkle without much effort (ahem, me) get an instant outfit by pulling on some knitwear over jeans. I particularly liked how something as traditional as a Scottish Fair Isle jumper was transformed with skulls and clashing neon leopard print.

Sister by SIBLING A/W 2012 by Alia Gargum
Sister by SIBLING A/W 2012 by Jamie Chiu
Sister by SIBLING A/W 2012 by Alia Gargum

As the models walked around the room at the end of the presentation and I resisted the urge to ruffle a pom pom or two, I noticed the shoes. In collaboration with Underground, this means that hopefully the trademark Sister by SIBLING leopard prints and skull Fair Isle teamed with ubiquitous pointy creepers and Chelsea boots may be available to buy next season.

Sister by SIBLING A/W 2012 by Alia Gargum
Sister by SIBLING A/W 2012 by Alia Gargum

Another nice little touch was the brand’s collaboration with Barbie, who they dressed up in miniature versions of the collection and displayed along shelves on their exhibition stand. If Sister by SIBLING can make someone as clean-cut as Barbie look like she’s right at home wearing glittering skulls, neon prints and fully sequinned jumpers, then surely the look can work for anyone. Besides, a full face of sequins or sparkly lurex means less time bothering with hair and makeup: a definite win.

Sister by SIBLING A/W 2012 by Alia Gargum
Sister by SIBLING A/W 2012 by Alia Gargum

All photography by Alia Gargum and Jamie Chiu

Categories ,Alia Gargum, ,Barbie, ,chelsea boots, ,Cozette McCreery, ,Crepe Sole Creepers, ,Gabriel Ayala, ,Gareth A Hopkins, ,Helena Maratheftis, ,Jamie Chiu, ,Joe Bates, ,Katie Grand, ,knitwear, ,Laura Bailey, ,Leopard Print, ,London Fashion Week A/W 2012, ,Neon, ,Portico Rooms, ,Sequins, ,Sid Bryan, ,Sister by Sibling, ,Underground Shoes

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Amelia’s Magazine | LCF MA Fashion Show 2013, Menswear: London Fashion Week Catwalk Review

LCF MA Na Di AW2013 by Jane Young
Na Di by Jane Young.

It says something about the current climate that four of ten designers at the much lauded LCF MA showcase at the Royal Opera House were showing menswear. In honour of this I’ve decided to split my review appropriately in two. First up, the menswear:

LCF MA Na Di fashion AW 2013-0038
LCF MA Na Di fashion AW 2013-0038
LCF MA Na Di fashion AW 2013-0038
LCF MA Na Di fashion AW 2013-0038
Na Di toyed with our current obsession for all things 90s, applying garish clashing prints to boxy single breasted jackets and matching crop trousers. High peaked baseball caps complimented the theme in a collection bound to have the menswear stylists salivating.

LCF MA octo cheung fashion AW 2013-0102
LCF MA octo cheung fashion AW 2013-0102
For Octo Cheung knitwear was the predominant obsession, with relaxed multi hued jumpers worn over shirts and cravats. This was accessorised with interesting eyewear, fit for a suitably geeky occupation: mending small parts or inspecting tiny specimens.

LCF MA fashion antonia lloyd AW 2013-0148
LCF MA fashion antonia lloyd AW 2013-0148
LCF MA fashion antonia lloyd AW 2013-0148
Tourquoise, fushia and red coloured shorts suits were paired with prints, close fitting jumpers and matching rucksacks in a bright collection by Antonia Lloyd. We first spotted Antonia Lloyd in her graduate showcase back in 2010, read the review here.

LCF MA fashion xin sun AW 2013-0195
LCF MA fashion xin sun AW 2013-0195
LCF MA fashion xin sun AW 2013-0195
LCF MA fashion xin sun AW 2013-0195
Xin Sun took to the outback for her fedora topped collection that looked most at home on a long haired model, his locks swinging in time with his wide legged tie-fronted trousers. Boxy utilitarian coats were paired with cosy oatmeal jumpers and big boots by Underground Shoes.

Categories ,Antonia Lloyd, ,Jane Young, ,LCF, ,London College of Fashion, ,ma, ,menswear, ,Na Di, ,Octo Cheung, ,Royal Opera House, ,Underground Shoes, ,Xin Sun

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