Temperley London Fall 2011 Review
Photos: Imaxtree
Looks from the Temperley London Fall 2011 collection
SHOW: Temperley London
THEME: "The Unfolding Picture," inspired by decorative Venetian fans
HAIR: Panos Papandrianos for Wella Professionals
MAKEUP: Gucci Westman for Revlon
NAILS: Revlon
ACCESSORIES: Gold-tipped heels from Charlotte Olympia, black opera-length gloves, and rosette hair accessories
FRONT ROW: Emilia Fox, Mark Ronson, Jacquetta Wheeler
OVERALL TAKEAWAY: Exquisite art deco glam and gowns worthy of a princess bride
Good things come to those who wait. Despite a 45-minute delay, Alice Temperley—returning to London in honor of her label's 10th anniversary—was quickly forgiven when her first model, radiating elegance in a peachy champagne fan dress cinched with a skinny snakeskin belt and topped with a black ruffle-pleated cape, emerged from the Reading Room of the illustrious British Museum.
The home of the Rosetta stone (and countless other antiquities) served as the spectacular backdrop for Temperley's long-overdue homecoming and was put to good use as the carefully choreographed models crisscrossed the marble floor before ascending the room's sweeping staircase. In a word: fancy.
Channeling that Jean Harlow–esque Old Hollywood glamour we're seeing a lot of this Fashion Week, models decked out in tasteful chignons and orangey lipstick wowed in slinky silk dresses, many of which boasted twirl-friendly, flamenco-style skirts, ruffled details, and extravagant beadwork and sequins.
Shots of gold, Venetian red and cinnamon added drama to the champagne and black palette, while a few cream creations—most notably a floor-sweeping, embellished gown with sheer long sleeves—seemed like an audition of sorts for a certain royal bride-to-be.
Beyond dresses, willowy metallic jumpsuits, high-waist trousers, cable-knit cardigans, and ruffled coats proved tempting, while metal-accented belts and fitted leather jackets and pants offered a touch of sleek modern edge.
Fluid and rich in stunning silhouettes, Temperley's Fall 2011 collection revealed an understanding of the feminine form and attention to detail honed by the designer over the past 10 years. Here's to the next 10.
SEE THE FALL 2011 RUNWAY COLLECTIONS.
