At Duro Olowu’s small Mayfair store, a seasonal presentation isn’t simply that. It’s a meditation on life, type, and design historical past, delivered with the designer’s wit and feather-light contact.
As fashions confirmed off his signature vivid prints, knife-sharp tailoring, and traditional silhouettes, Olowu talked concerning the energy of pink, “should you discover the fitting shade, it warms your coronary heart and calms you down,” mentioned the designer.
He described a brief, unfastened printed gown as resembling “Henry the VIII’s nightshirt,” and whereas a mannequin was exhibiting off a billowing, ankle-grazing skirt, he seemed on in satisfaction and mentioned: “You may hear the cotton.”
Olowu’s distinctive type, which melds traditional shapes with vivid prints and intense, life-affirming coloration, has a cult-like following right here, amongst girls of all ages.
This season’s prime appears to be like have been season-less and will swimsuit anybody. A few of the finest included a child pink button-down shirtdress with military-style pockets, and an obi-style belt; silky Henry VIII nighdresses lined in Olowu’s signature leaf, flower and swirl patterns; and swing coats created from printed, flocked material.
Olowu all the time appears to be like to the previous to search out inspiration, and this season was no exception.
He got here throughout packing containers of buttons from the Thirties — created from mom of pearl or Bakelite — and added them to slim, sharp jackets; dotted them down the facet of a cotton drill skirt; or positioned them on the entrance of one in every of his many luscious silk coats, including an entire different layer to his wealthy narrative.