One to Watch: Melanie Anayiotos

My approach to fashion week and to fashion blogging is simple: sit back, observe, appreciate, and comment when appropriate. I know the whole FW scene is a spectacle in it of itself . . . what did this celeb wear to this designer’s show? What bag did this editor bring to brunch? Etc. . . .  but I just can’t personally get into that sort of thing. I like fashion for the art more than the scene.  I’ve gotten a few e-mails with requests for “full length body shots” of what I’ll be wearing to different events. I mean, seriously, it’s not about me! Nobody cares what I’m wearing. That holds true for fashion week and in general. I’ve never understood fashion blogs that are wholly devoted to pictures of the blogger in various outfits. It seems so self-aggrandizing.

Anyway, if you’re actually looking for me in photos of NYFW (which I’m sure you’re not), I’m the one the back, dressed in all black, sketching in my MAGMA sketchbook , snapping pics with my iPhone, looking for art in fashion.

Speaking of, I thought you’d love to start your Friday with Melanie Anayiotos who just presented her Master’s Collection ‘Imperfect Beauty’ at the London College of Fashion. I love the way she accents her clean, simple designs with subtly striking details. More about Melaine and her collection:

The Masters Collection entitled ‘Imperfect Beauty’ is based on research into the concept of Wabi-Sabi; the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature. It accepts the natural cycle of growth, decay and death. It reveres simplicity, intimacy, modesty and authenticity above all. Wabi-Sabi and the collection ‘Imperfect Beauty’ celebrate the kind of perfect beauty that is caused by just the right balance of imperfection.

The techniques and creative pattern cutting in the collection were formed around the specific research into the ageing process in human beings, particularly related to the skin. The ‘wrinkling technique’ was created through draping and pattern cutting and then by invisible understitches holding the outside layer of fabric to an underlayer, or base layer. The ‘wrinkles’ are created to appear like moments of movement frozen in time. The prints in the collection are hand crafted screen prints using both gold and clear foil. The broken up print is unique in that it is created as it is produced and will always vary slightly with each individual piece. The pattern cutting throughout the collection resembles the growth of the skin in that it uses few seams and creates a rounded and curved silhouette.

The skin in society holds a place of importance in that it reveals many things about our inner selves to the outside world. ‘Imperfect beauty’ was created to highlight the true beauty in what is often seen as a woman’s imperfections.

Picture Credits: Photographer: Jesse Laitinen/ Model: Carola Wisney/ Makeup: Linda Wallsten/ Hair: Susanne Lichtenegger/ Stylist: Cecile Maillot