There’s a hefty disparity between innocent and amateur. Unfortunately, Alice Temperely’s fall collection delved too far into the latter to make her go at trousers and pant suits germane.
Rejecting the prettiness of her previous offerings, Temperley opted for a collection of high-waisted short skirts and lace-appliqued dresses in uncharacteristically stark colour combos. It felt strained, almost painfully calculated, and out of step with the nonchalant girliness upon which she has gained quite the following. Her best efforts came - no surprise here - from the exotically beaded and flowing dresses towards the end, minus, of course, the Cleoptra-like head dresses.
To be fair, it may time to translate her true voice into pieces other than pretty dresses.
Credit Photos: Style.com
Why is nobody getting the headdresses? They’re not Byzantine, not Cleopatra - they’re Russian folklore. Hasn’t anyone ever seen an old picture of peasants in their Sunday best? Or illustrations of old Russian fairy tales? Yish.
i got it, my white russian ancestors would have relished them.
otherwise, is it wrong that i am slightly fascinated, albeit not totally convinced by this collection? it is just, so, odd…
I know - I saw the show and the Russian influences were fascinating and pervaded the collection so its ignorant of the reviewers to say Byzantine or Cleopatra. At the show, the brilliant music really brought out those Russian refences in a cool way.
I’d even say that Temperley are ahead of the victorian influence pack with something really original. Even though the tailoring is improving with each year, the originality in the concepts should be enough to make up.