London Fashion Week: Jean-Pierre Braganza

‘Whiplashed’ is a slightly unsettling name for a collection. You go in slightly anxious/worried/scared when a collection is named as such. But in reality, Braganza’s latest offering was loud, optimistic and bold.

With a colour palette of bright primaries (notably blue, yellow and red) plus some splashy prints thrown in for safe measure, there was nothing retiring about the clothes going down the catwalk. In a word, it was undone. From the slashed necklines and loose hems to the asymmetric panels hanging off just about everything. Nothing was quite finished – it all felt delightfully free and easy.

So it was no surprise to learn that the British-born Canadian designer’s approach to constructing this runway of free flowing beauties was jazz music. To quote the man himself, ‘the fact that it’s so structured and yet so chaotic really fascinates me’. Hence the blazer with one side missing or what appeared to be half of one beautiful dress joined with half of another equally beautiful specimen. Intricately thought through and yet thrown together. Standouts included a little white sequined top with feathered hem and low slung, deep-pocketed, wide-legged trousers in an array of colours.

With a front row of Made in Chelsea/TOWIE royalty (plus Diana Vickers, obvs) it was interesting to see what they took a shine to. It was safe to say that the iPhones were all whipped out at the arrival of a black and white playsuit with hot pant legs and a seriously plunging neckline. No surprises there then.

As my first show in the new ‘urban’ home to LFW – aka Brewer Street car park – I was keen to compare the experience to Somerset House’s equivalent showspace. I have to admit (and I hate to be a downer) it didn’t have the same drama. It felt smaller, there was no dimmed lighting (windows) and it just lacked a little something. Maybe it’ll grow on me…

London Fashion Week SS16 runs until 22nd September 2015

Photo by Julia Knight