William Tempest’s show was a must see this season, and the star studded front row further proved it: Jade Parfitt, Jasmine Guinness, Sophie Anderton and Emma Watson all came to see the designer who narrowly missed out on the Fashion Fringe award.
Tempest has already designed pieces for Madonna, and worked for the likes of Giles Deacon, and Jean Charles de Castelbajac. Given his extensive achievements and experiences, it’s no wonder that this collection was sponsored by Toni & Guy, Sony Vaio, Benefit and Vauxhall Fashion Scout.
Readers of Philippa Gregory’s historical, romantic dramas, based on the love life of Henry VIII, will feel nostalgic when watching William Tempest’s newest collection. Taking inspiration from Gregory’s ‘The Virgin’s Lover’, razor sharp tailoring and corset and crinoline dresses were printed with Henry VllI’s face, as painted by Hans Holbein. To contribute towards the Tudor feel of the garments, strings of pearls and other accessories relevant to that time were blended into the photo montage print.
The iconic paintings were deconstructed and take the form of a print on stiff dresses, complete with bodices pointing sharply to the throat and skirts of swaths of fabric. The prints, in my opinion, were the highlight of the show, as they were interesting and unique. Tie dyed red, purple and orange added to the drama of the excellent structured dresses, and I also loved the oversized diamond print.
Taking cues from Zac Posen’s early days, cleverly panelled dresses were the focus point. Black and white criss-cross shift dresses with a peek of leg showcase William Tempest’s sensual elements to the garment, as well as excellently executed showmanship. The amount of work put into every garment was obvious. It seemed that every seam and stitch was done to perfection to ensure excellent cut and shape. It made us want to reach out and examine the garments in further detail, which is commendable for a new designer.
Images courtesy of the Fashion Spot forums.
