London Fashion Week A/W 2011: Womenswear

Mary Katrantzou
Photographic images of refined and precious objects such as Meissen porcelain, Coromandel screens and Fabergé eggs got the Katrantzou treatment, placement printed and re-engineered on to the body in her now signature style. Her silhouette has evolved, now part 1930s and 40s couture, and is partly formed by her selected objects - think an open Fabergé egg or a porcelain bowl over a slim column. Katrantzou told us back in December, when developing the collection, that she was trying to create garments for an imaginary woman who lived with these precious objects, or resided in the interiors she used last season. New from her this season, exciting knit jacquards based on the same rich imagery, produced by expert Italian knitwear specialists. Kratrantzou takes the 'wearable art' idea to a whole new level and although these garments could be considered over embellished, top to Christian Louboutin-enamelled toe in pattern, some how she gets the whole thing right and it works well.