London Fashion Week: Michael Van Der Ham

Michael Van Der Ham’s AW14 collection was more than a bit psychadelic with flower power out in full force and big blooms on everything from cashmere jumpers to silk skirts.

Inspired by the clothes obsessed librarian played by Parker Posey in 1995 film Party Girl and the ’60s mag, Intro, the designer’s retro vision descended on the Tate Modern Turbine Hall.

Sashaying down the catwalk like beautiful pop icon muses; the models wore their hair slick and straight – a popular style at London Fashion Week – with glowing faces and girly pink lips.

The ‘60s inspired colour palette was bursting at the seams with oranges, yellows, fuchsias and blues drafted on a mismatch of organza, sequins and embossed lace.

Much to my excitement, coloured tights also had a massive comeback. Legs encased in mustard yellow, ice blue and coral were paired with some seriously amazing suede mega-block platforms, playfully designed by Christian Louboutin with this collection in mind.

There was also more Swarovski crystal embellishment than Liberace himself would have shaken a blinged-out stick at, with a healthy excess dished up on some very tempting frocks.

A favourite was an elegant matching dress and jacket combination covered in big, blue hydrangea prints, or the royal blue shift dress covered in ‘growing’ 3D appliqué flowers.

Also stunning was a beautiful navy shift dress with massive, sequin embellished flowers paired with a boxy, sheer navy shrug artfully layered on top like a magical wrapper.

Disproving naysayers who may claim you can actually have ‘too much of a good thing’, Van Der Ham has artfully proven otherwise, mixing collaged fabrics, crystals, sequins, 3D detailing, brights and tights together—sometimes all at once—and to beautiful effect.

For this reason, he has become one of my new heroes overnight for his ability to pull so much together, completely nailing that quirky-kitsch look that is somewhere in between playing dress up in grandma’s closet or going to a tea party in an old Volkswagen camper.

Despite how strange that sounds, believe me; it’s a very cool look.  Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go beat fellow quirky girls Zooey Deschanel and Chloë Sevigny in the queue!

Image courtesy of Starworks Group