The Vinyl Factory was transformed into a summer meadow scene as vibrant green turf was laid down with cream flowers were sprinkled sporadically on top. A film flicking between iconic American scenes formed a backdrop, summer vibes continued as the images transitioned from blue-skied cityscapes, beaches and countryside.
Backstage, Asli Polat explained she wanted to recreate a “teenage dream of the sixties with a modern twist.” An abundance of femininity was created through the soft pastel colour scheme, heavy embellishment and Bardot necklines. However, this was dampened slightly with injections of military khakis, large utility pockets and sheer hooded outerwear, bringing a subtle sportswear feeling, distinctive to Popat’s designing style. Each piece of the collection had a subtle twist, smart white shirts with their back panels and sleeves replaced with excess fabric, forming a cape-like effect as the models made their way down the runway and skirts were built into trousers. Elizabeth Fraser-Bell styled the show helping to pull together the beautifully diverse collection, finishing each look consistently with tasseled ankle boots.
Bea Sweet lead the make-up team, drawing ideas from the sixties they used predominantly natural products from ‘Balance Me.’ A custom mixed powder blue liner was created especially, set above the eyelash line. Matching mascara provoked imagery of summery blue skies and correlated with colour tones in the collection. The eyes were framed with a rounded full brow and the skin tone was purposefully kept two-dimensional to remain relevant to the era of the show. Kota Suizu was the head of hair, the team created a wet-look, low, tousled bun using Joico Sculpting Lotion as it creates the desired texture but sustains movement as the product does not solidify.
Photos: Sarah Brown
Words by: April Edgar
Here’s a video by our awesome photographer Sarah:
