BRITISH SOPHISTICATION
London: Relatively new to the ready-to-wear scene, Emilia Wickstead has quickly made a name for herself with her sophisticated collections. The Duchess of Cambridge has been spotted in her clothing, she was shortlisted for the British Fashion Council/Vogue Fashion Fund award this year, and one of her dresses was recently used in an ad campaign for Royal Ascot. With high-brow associations such as these, it’s no surprise that Wickstead’s current offering felt very refined and very British. She opened the show with a tartan shirtdress styled with a wool coat in a contrasting tartan pattern. It was the most playful look in the collection and also the most impactful. Other items, such as pleated slim pants, funnel-necked tops, and body-skimming coats showcased Wickstead’s tailoring expertise. Before she began producing ready-to-wear, she did made-to-measure garments, so fits were expectedly flawless. On the conservative side, especially when compared to many of her London cohorts, Wickstead’s looks helped to fill the void for real, wearable clothing with a grown-up sensibility. –Joanna Manganaro
Silhouette: A-line / Hourglass / New Look / Tent / Long and lean
Color: Beige / Teal / Camel / Burnished brown / Bracken / Chartreuse / Black / White / Lipstick red / Peach / Blush / Bottle green
Key Items: Tartan shirtdress / Funnel neck tops / Slim pleated trousers / Body-skimming coats / Full skirts
Materials: Tweed / Firm silks / Wool piqué / Silk suitings / Jacquard / Silk cloqué / Fine-gauge silk yarns
Print + Pattern: Prince of Wales plaid / Tartan / Houndstooth / Brown florals
Details + Trim: Beading / Pearl embellishments / Inverted pleats / Funnel necks / Ruching / Shirt collars
Accessories + Footwear: Croc duffel bag / Pointy-toe ankle-strap pumps / Pointy-toe pumps / Two-strap high-heeled sandals
