If we live by Topshop Unique's show, it looks like the average household mutt will be replacing diamonds as a girl's best friend this AW11 (as usual, dogs were also prevalent at Mulberry, and at NYFW Isaac Mizhari dyed some REAL LIVE poodles with candy colours). Katie Grand, stylist and editor of the biannual Love Magazine, reeled off a list of inspirations for the styling of the show, with 'dogs, 101 Dalmations and Cruella DeVille' coming in at the top. She went on to add Bugsy Malone, Bonnie and Clyde, Showgirls, tap shoes and Art Deco posters to that very same list, which can clearly be grouped under a collective '1930's' heading.
The varied inspirations meant varied outfits, which is what we've come to expect from Topshop Unique's collections. The canine element was the predominant theme of the show, but this is what injected fun into it, with hints such as kohl-painted dog noses, dalmation-spotted fingernails and hair that mimicked floppy ears.
In keeping with the dotted theme, the beginning of the collection was very monochrome, with earthy and berry shades running through to complement. Of the various looks, many were an appealing cross between school girl and school mistress, with Mary Jane shoes and hockey stockings contrasting with grown-up belted furs.
A decent collection overall, but I feel like Topshop Unique should be pushing for a cutting-edge status so as to prove their worth as the only high-street shop that shows at London Fashion Week. Patterned tights, camel, fur coats and demure lengths have all been overdone in previous seasons, and I feel like the brand should have moved on from that to retain their notoriety at being front-of-field in youthful and creative fashion. Personally, I was more taken with the minor doggy-inspired styling details I’ve mentioned (which really were so delightfully cute and quaint) rather than purely the clothing itself.
Check the show out and see for yourself. And let me know if you agree - I've never really taken to 1930's styling so maybe I'm being a bit of a harsh critic?
