Bring out your inner goddess with Qasimi

As snow and icy conditions have been predicted for many of us early next week, I'm escaping and looking ahead to next season where British brand Qasimi have played on the concept of divine beings, creating an altogether ethereal collection. Designed by duo Khalid AlQasimi and Elliot Frieze, the SS11 offering takes the drama and strength of the ancient aesthetic and brings it to life using hand embellishments galore including Swarovski crystals, antique metals, laser-cut mirrors, and intricate beading.

With draping in the finest fabrics, architectural shoulders sit atop delicate chiffons, and sharp classical shapes create space for decadent, extravagant structured silhouettes. With deep turquoise, blood red and burgundy set in contrast to the gold and ornate embroidery, this is a fantastic collection which makes me long for the good food, vibrant colour and sunshine of the Mediterranean.

LFW Diary SS11 Highlights: Erdem

Held just after Alexander McQueen’s memorial, the Erdem SS11 show took place in the heart of Bloomsbury. Presented in an open white tent, the leafy location of Bedford Square was the perfect setting for Moralioglu's romantic collection, perfectly encapsulating the spirit of spring.

After being asked to design a souvenir scarf for the current Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes exhibition at the V&A, Erdem was granted unprecedented access to their expansive catalogue of illustrations, sets and costumes for the legendary Ballet Russes, providing the primary inspiration for his SS11 offering.

Taking on the inherent sense of movement in ballet, Erdem’s collection was full of soft A-line skirts, cigarette pants and smocks dominated by fitting hues of poppy red, blue orchid, violet purple and lily cream.

Erdem’s trademark digital prints made a welcome appearance bursting with florals, creating a delightfully delicate aesthetic of a modern ethereal goddess. Optimism, fragility and innocence were lesser themes reflected in Swiss hand-crocheted white lace and sheer blouses, reminiscent of christening gowns and wedding dresses – fit only for the purist of occasions.

With a folk/ Russian doll twist, embroidery and patchwork united the collection seamlessly, further enhanced by a smattering Swarovski crystals, highlighting the detail that went into some of the dizzy and painterly florals. With simple and elegant details such as platform sandals with espadrille-like floral ribbon ties further perpetuating the ballet theme, once again Erdem has surpassed expectations, creating an overtly feminine collection, brimming with style, luxury and most of all, talent.

LFW Diary SS11: Ada Zanditon

A firm favourite, whom I have followed for the past three seasons (SS10 and AW10), yesterday afternoon at On|Off, Ada Zanditon displayed a salon show of her new SS11 collection, quirkily called The Pyramora – to rave reviews and rapturous applause.

Utilising fractal geometry and tessellation to provide the foundation for her architecturally disciplined collection, Zanditon combined innovation and ingenious shapes with technical precision, to create something entirely her own. Inspired by The Great Pyramid and the delicate structure of coral reefs, Zanditon plumped for light and translucent materials such as fine chiffon, organic cotton, silk douppion and recycled heritage British brand trench fabrics to form intriguing structural shapes.

With gravity-defying conical hair personifying the pyramid theme, models were adorned in vibrant iridescent turquoise, gold and burnt orange present in a kaleidoscope of prints depicting coral reefs combined with watercolour to provide the colour palette and backdrop for the range, completed with Zanditon’s illustrations.

A matching caramel coloured vegetable dyed leather crop top and mini skirt was a standout look that shouldn’t work, but indeed it did exuding attitude and confidence. For the first time – I can recall - Ada has collaborated with a jewellery designer, Luca Romanyi to produce square porcelain tiles broken into triangles depicting the recurring prints, enhanced with Swarovski crystals and leather.

A truly fabulous collection and I’m really rooting for her to get more stockists and the international acclaim she truly deserves.

Atelier Swarovski shine for SS10

This season sees Atelier Swarovski launch their sixth luxury collection featuring exclusive, crystal jewellery and accessories designed in collaboration with four of the most talented, multi-disciplined designers working today.

Matthew Williamson:

Zaha Hadid:

Jason Wu:

Nicholas Kirkwood:

Images throughout courtesy of Atelier Swarovski

I'm sure you'll agree that the results are breath taking. Its a tough call but my favourite pieces would have to be Matthew Williamson's, due to the beautiful geometric designs and bold use of bright colour, which are bang on trend for this season. Zaha's jewellery designs are beautifully made, and whilst they're maybe a touch conceptual for my taste, I think they definitely stand out as great examples of design. I love the Wu and Kirkwood bib style necklaces too - truly spoilt for choice this SS10.