Runway shows are notorious for running late—fashionably late, if you will. So I shouldn’t have been surprised to be in the “standing room only” line outside the Eley Kishimoto show—for over a half hour in the cold—when the line finally began to move, and my toes began to thaw. My fellow ticket-less journalists and I were quickly ushered in and the show started almost immediately.
Eley Kishimoto is the label of design duo Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto. They’ve been designing together for over ten years and are best known for their fabulous prints. The Autumn/Winter 2008 show kicked off with some basic black pieces to balance out that first fabulous print: a black, white, and hot pink diamond-shaped pattern that conjured images of court jesters. The models wore stiff white gloves, some almost conical in shape. The look was very Hitchcock Heroine—lots of sassy suits with swing jackets. True to reputation, the Autumn/Winter collection is abundant with great prints in bright colors. The shapes are loose with plenty of tunic tops and billowy sleeves. I can’t decide which look is my favorite: the white brocade swing jacket with matching skirt or the three quarter sleeve shift dress in the same material with the bow detailing at the elbows. The show is over entirely too soon and it’s official—Eley Kishimoto is now one of my absolute favorite labels!
After Eley Kishimoto, I booked it down the street to a different venue for the Xterity London show. With a few minutes to spare (well, more than a few since the show was at least twenty minutes late—they really work that cliché don’t they?), I have a moment to read up on the label. Managing director Darren Edwards started Xterity London in 2005 and appointed Tracy Mulligan as creative director, overseeing two other designers. The Autumn/Winter 2008 collection was heavily influenced by silhouettes from the 1940s and 1950s. The show started with a lovely assortment of little black dresses in shiny fabrics. I could see from my seat (ahem, front row!) that the clothing is beautifully made. There are a few separates, but mostly cocktail dresses and key colors of the collection are sparkly copper and teal blue with silver. I didn’t love the odd “outside pockets” on some skirts and slacks, but as a whole, the designs were pleasing, beautiful even, but nothing to write home about … although I guess I am doing just that!
