LFW SS15: Jamie Wei Huang

‘Metaphysics: An explanation for the fundamental nature of being and the world that encompasses it.’ This was the theme for Jamie Wei Huang’s SS15. Inspired by “a basic idea of the human existence within an urban society” the worryingly wordy taglines for the show could easily have confused Stephen Fry, however, what was not confusing was Jamie Wei Huang’s trademark style reflected in the collection.  The show opened with an array of garments with a white base colour and pretty pastel yellow, blue, peach and pink coloured fabrics woven in. Shapes were all very playful with puffy sleeves and shoulders, yet demure and edgy with the occasional bit of white leather and a cheeky bit of cotton candy-coloured fluff here and there.

There were many elements of the collection, in fact, that reminded me of the winter pastel trend we saw a lot of in AW13, but very pretty and feminine – if that’s to your taste. The other half of the collection was a total contrast to this, we saw a lot of navy blues and dark green colours, with black leather – some similarly shaped to the more colourful half and some with a suit/tailored shape to them (think: Cara Delevigne etc). But again, very striking. A problem I often find with designer collections is that they are not very wearable for the everyday woman. Don’t get me wrong: as much as I love Zuhair Murad and Ellie Saab, it’s rare that I’ll have an occasion where it’s appropriate to wear a heavily embellished floor length gown… But overall, Jamie’s is a collection that could cater to many different women on many different occasions.

The makeup was very simple and minimal, something we’ve seen a lot of so far in NYFW, but the hair in this catwalk show was rather avant garde in that the hair had been back combed in a rather wild, ‘Wonderland-ish’ way, but with a strip of white paint across one side of the head. While it was definitely interesting and drew your attention, I felt it was reminiscent of that moment a pigeon does its business as it flies over head…. (come on, it’s happened to the best of us).

But, all-in-all, a very beautiful and interesting collection that is very wearable. Out now and available on all good dressers.

(Written by me for House of Papillon Magazine | Image from Spindle Mag).