‘STYLE HAPPENS SOONER, ON ‘LATER’!’

We have a lot to thank Mr Jools Holland for! Not only does he bring us the most eclectic of live, global musical offerings, from established and emerging artists, alike, but with them, come a plethora of stand-out, sartorial selections, from the style-spectrum! For instance, you’re as likely to see and hear the hauntingly melodic, ‘Amadou and Mariam’, bedecked in bold, traditional Malian dress, playing in the-round, as you are the infectiously-anthemic synth-pop of ‘M.T’, in their eponymous multi-coloured, tie-dye-tees!

Case-in-point has to be a recent episode, featuring, Goldfrapp, James Blake, Franz Ferdinand and Kanye West!

 Backlit in a pure-gold aura and engulfed, full-length, in a column of black chiffon-drapery, the ever-ethereal, Alison Goldfrapp, held the audience, spell-bound with her melifluously reed-like, vocal perfomance of ‘Annabel’. The timeless gown, simultaneously, captured her effortless, idiosyncratic grace, whilst also paying homage to SS14 runways, with its pintuck-peephole bodice.

The unnervingly-talented James Blake delivered an equally-classy rendition of the stunning ‘Retrograde’. With hair, windswept, in defiance of the stillness generated by his unfolding-wall-of sound, he was an example of understated style, surrendering to sonic substance. In a ‘1-800 Dinosaur’ T-shirt-and-jeans ensemble, Blake also seamlessly combined product-placement of his new record label and a pinpoint performance, with ease and flair.

In stark juxtaposition, was the riff and quiff-friendly, Franz Ferdinand. Already well-known for their unique fashion statements including the sharpest of Savile Row-silhouettes, the band showed that they had lost none of their couture-creativity, teaming the gusto of, lyrically, ‘right words’ with the ‘right action’ of donning fashion-forward Hawaiian-prints with rock-a-billy attitude! Very D-Squared-2!

Kanye West’s performance of ‘Bound To’, with the outstanding ‘Uncle’ Charlie (Gap Band) Wilson, more-than-referenced the fact that he had graduated, magna-cum-laude, from the School-of-FROW! The ‘College Drop-Out’ star stamped his artistic authority on the programme, with all of the swagger for which we have come to love him. Punctuating the pitch-black studio with dramatic spotlighting, which served to accente his choice of a laid-back, layering trend, a play-on-neutrals of black ribbed-tee and low-slung, loose-fit, trousers, was complemented by a three-quarter length, khaki parka and desert boots in a pop-of-camel-colour. The entire look was topped-off by the trademark, heavy-gold, diamond-set, belcher-link chain, de rigueur for ushering in SS14’s metallic forecast! Uncle Charlie was certainly in-the-house, with his own, distinguished, take on double-denim, accessorizing with shades, as blacked-out as the windows on a one-off, customised Bugatti! It was, undoubtedly, a fitting backdrop to the soaring, silky-smooth, vocal-runs and devastating musical prowess of such a living-legend of U.S Funk/R&B!

So, the next time you tune into ‘Later… with Jools Holland’, keep an eye out for a new class of ‘artist-interpretations’… I think you’ll find that, on closer inspection, they are, in fact, rather more original!

©AFROW2013-2019 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

LFW: SIMONE ROCHA…TOTALLY TONGUE-IN-CHIC!!!!

Ahh Miss Rocha, with your style, you are really spoiling us!!!

Now before you tell me… I know it’s Roch-a as in ‘Ma-MA‘, not Roch-a as in, well, Rocher, but I couldn’t resist it! Nor could I take my eyes off this collection, which was, at once, stunning, as well as scintillating!

First impressions?

The ‘Simone Rocha-girl’ is the ‘Chanel-girl’s’ naughty little sister!!! The opening black ensemble of a sleeveless top with pearl-embellished neckline, which delicately surfed the stomach, a knee-skimming skirt, sheer popsocks, and a twist on the quintessential ballet flat, again, accentuated with pearls, nigh-on shouted LOOK AT ME..NOW!’, on its way down the catwalk!

What followed was an edgy, yet, romantically-inspired journey, which would incorporate glistening, black, texturised jackets and trousers, adding depth and balance to the strength of looks. A semi-tonal shift to grey, facilitated floral motifs to shine upon knee-length dresses, with the gradual movement through the neutral palette made complete by a welcome blast of lightning-white. Models resembled paper dolls in dresses, the material of which, appeared to be the most delicately-crushed, lily-white petals. As if to conclude the theme, Miss Rocha stripped away any tonal suggestions whatsoever, presenting us with her take on the see-through mac, choosing, instead, to use a doily/ crochet motif as the point-of-interest. However, the colourful introduction of a luxurious moss green, three-quarter length, leather coat, reminded us not to be deceived by the apparent fragility of the looks which had gone before!

With the optical amuse-bouche delivered, the journey meandered through variations, on a brocade theme. Top-to-toe separates which glimmered beneath the lights, as sunrays settling upon the fresh, morning dew, were quickly followed by pieces which saw a reprise of pearls, unexpectedly outlining single-slash cut-outs. This surprise adornment soon took a more recognisable format, with golden pearls being applied around the neckline of a fabulous white coat.

The finale was a breathtaking way to end the tour, with the last three models wrapped in peach-hued, gossamer-like material, featuring pearl-encrusted cut-outs and pop-socks…It was as if they had just been taken down from the shelves of a high-end fabric shop, ready to be unfurled, or were fairy-tale brides, ensconced beneath the most ethereal wedding veils!

What we had here, ladies and gentlemen, was a masterclass in meekness… In other words, power under control, which, I believe, not only befits the ‘Simone Rocha aesthetic’, but also extends to her ability to harness her unique talent. A talent which she deftly uses to deliver gifts of exquisite designs, complemented by an irrepresible measure of wit, that can only be described as truly tongue-in-chic!

~

SIMONE ROCHA.COM ~ @Simone_Rocha_

©AFROW2013-2019 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

***

A TWITTER-FAVOURITE WITH CAROLINE RUSH (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE BRITISH FASHION COUNCIL)!