LFW AW10: Amanda Wakeley

Still slagging away at the last of LFW, as I sit here in Paris, with Milanese goodies burning a sizable hole in my cyber pocket...what a shameful blogger am I! Although, I do have a valid excuse. As I sit here typing this post in the darkness of my room at Paris' Mama Shelter Hotel (for some reason, Mama doesn't believe in proper lighting, although my bed is flanked by two illuminated Shrek masks. Yep, writing by dim light of a green ogre during fashion week), I've just pressed send on the text I've written for a tribute book to the late Alexander McQueen. I feel like I've just rewritten my Masters dissertation, or given birth, and a stack of tickets for the final sprint of showdome quietly mock my exhaustion in the corner. But as they say, don't bite the PR hand that tickets you. So that shall suffice for the griping.

But back to the matter at (last week's) hand. Given that the lovely Amanda Wakeley has been so kind as to contribute her sagely wisdom to my tome, it's only fair that I finally get around to blogging about her show, which, while it may seem like ages ago, was only about half the career lifespan of an average catwalk model. As in, about ten days.  That was a bit witless and totally half-hearted, but my brain is on lockdown with regards to the clever quip department, so that's as good as it's going to get at the moment.

So here we gooooo....

Amanda Wakeley, newly having received her OBE at Buckingham Palace, was in strong retail form. A collection of classic neutral wool blazers, sweaters, wraps and coats were layered one over the other for cozy, easy-to-wear day looks which would constitute permanent additions to any wardrobe. It's all about the basics baby. And for fans of the Camilla Skovgaard/Wakeley footwear collaboration, from the looks of the treads tromping the catwalk, it looks like you'll be getting a second go around. Let's just hope this season more than just two pairs make it to our fair online retail forums!

For evening, Amanda, kept things simple this season. Sticking with a Grecian theme (she reworked my favorite white goddess dress from last season in black), models in printed chiffon full length gowns and wide-legged jumpsuits (hooray!) sported cuffed gladiatorial arms as they breezed down the catwalk. And at the collection's end, an asymmetrical peach beaded number swished down the runway in both mini form for cocktail and floor-sweeping for evening.

This little number in its cocktail manifestation would have been my favorite of the collection had it not been for the FUR! ( boots with the fur (furrrrrr)…)which definitely stole the show (no pun intended...get it...fur stole?) man the humor is in poor form tonight.

 Fur, as you probably know by now, is having a major runway moment right now (even in the UK!), and Amanda's deployment of it in her collection was definitely the highlight, as I wasn't really expecting it. Guests gasped in surprise as Amanda played with bits of fox as enormous box-like hood here (who cares if she can't see, at least her face is warm!) a classic stole about a model's super-elongated neck there...and...wait for it..wait for it...a little puffpuff mini dress!


That's right, it seems my little Style Whispering trip may have inspired a runway look! Back in November, whence whispering at Wakeley's Fulham Road flagship, I decided to rock a fluffy fox snood as a skirt for a bit of cavewoman action. Evidently after seeing the pictures, Amanda commented on the coolness of my unexpected and quirky styling. So imagine my surprise (and excitement) when a model appeared on the runway working my little fuzzy look!

Taking the fuzz to the next level, Amanda's paired her puffball (now officially a minidress) with a matching fur capelet. I think it should be officially dubbed the "Butters Bum Ball."

                                                                      

From Style Whispering...................................to runway!!