The South African Fashion Week 2016
started with hype with celebrity favorite Gert-Johan Coetzee at a fever pitch
with celebrities, press, buyers, influencers and just like the rest of the
continent, BN Style was all eyes and ears as we took note of the most poignant
collections that walked the catwalks on the first, second and third days to a
resounding success.
So far, so good, a lot of the
collections shown have been muted in colours giving the entire week an Autumn
feel rather than the vibrancy that
Spring is known for, perhaps a new trend that we’re yet to catch up on? Only
time can tell!
Look below, for the very best the
SAFW 2016 had to offer for it’s first three days.
Gert is such an interesting designer
because of how he’s perfected the art of red carpet dressing over a short span
of time, especially for noteworthy South African superstar Bonang Matheba. But
to say that Gert-Johan Coetzee brought that much fire and pizzazz that we’ve
come to love about his creations to the SAFW 2016 catwalks would be a great
disservice. Don’t get us wrong, this wasn’t a bad collection at all, but that
sparkle and edge that usually comes with everything Gert was missing for us.
We’d have loved to see more skin, more drama and sophistication—atlas, all we
got is a little of everything, not enough to satisfy our Gert thirst though.
Erre
In a simple sentence: Erre has just
successfully made swimwear look like daywear. Well, maybe that wasn’t all that
simple. But here’s the cache: Erre’s colour palette was much like everyone
else’s; mild, earth toned and muted, only here it is put to good use in
complementing the models’ skin tones. Where they aren’t wearing one piece
bikinis, they are walking fiercely with gladiator inspired jacket and dresses
strapped around their bodies, pretty much in a domineering way.
 |
| In this black number though, Gert-Johan Coetzee absolutely does it for me. Absolutely! |
Colleen Eitzen
At Colleen Eitzen, everything was put
to good use; from the fabrics that were heavily laden with sequins to the light
ones that flew all around like butterflies in the sky to the denim that were
made into cute little outer wears such as jackets. The designer kept things
fresh with really interesting silhouettes that swirled (which was more or less
a thing across the week for most designers) and smartly made the rich gold
toned sequinned fabric the base of the entire collection, from wholesome sequin
pieces to a little of it here and there. This was easily a good collection, and
if you’re a Gossip Girl fan, then you’ll agree with us that this could easily
have been Serena Van Der Woodsen’s wardrobe.
Clive Rundle
Clive Rundle elegantly explores the
concept of maximalism, with sharp precision and neat execution. The designer
favoured layering and mix-match to achieve the look without so much as a
scratch. It’s also interesting how different clashing prints somewhat coexist
in one piece without looking misplaced, all these takes a certain level of understanding
of how prints work to be able to present this impeccably, and that, we think
Clive Rundle has in no short supply.
Lunar
Laid back chic was the order of the
day at Lunar SS16 presentation. The models strutted the catwalks in slingy
shimmery soft hued dresses that went with the wind as they walked while tightly
hugging the models figure. Quite a sensual and feminine collection that could
have easily gone wrong, yet it didn’t -which heightened our intrigue even more.
T’Niche
Asymmetry was the most visible element
at T’Niche’s presentation. From the cuts to the silhouettes, most looks were
lopsided but only in the most interesting way.
The fabrication was super light and the twirling only where absolutely
necessarily, other wise, the good tailoring did the majority of the work.
Rubicon
Rubicon’s
life-mannequin installation was easily the most visually stunning and
captivating of all. Models were dressed in divinely sophisticated white (and
some in pale pink) frocks that had neatly constructed ruffles and fringe spread
across them while seated on white garden chairs on green grass. The ultra
feminine collection kept things really minimal with clean simple cuts, with
only the details doing all the talking.
Not to be
overly dramatic, but in truth, it’s Rubicon’s world (or at least, the South
African Fashion Week is), and we’re only living in it!
By Richard Akuson
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