Where is the future of fashion headed? That question is currently reverberating at every level of the industry, and designer Kym Ellery sought to answer it this season with an event that turned the runway format in on itself. She staged and filmed a show without guests prior to the presentation—perhaps as exclusive as Fashion Week gets? Well, not quite. By releasing that video online at the same time that she opened the doors up to editors and buyers today, she gave her fans virtual front row access.
So how exactly did the clothes fit into this conceptual experiment? They were inspired, explained Ellery, “by the forward-thinkers of the 20th century, those who questioned the speed of light and time travel.” The Paris-based Australian designer has always had a soft spot for the 1960s, and filtered retro-futurist references into her signature statement blouses and flared pants. The extreme proportions of her popular bell-bottoms were restrained in slouchy trousers that tied at the ankle and slightly modish cropped jeans. Ellery has toyed with more historical silhouettes in the past, including the Victorian dress, and she gave that empire-line shape a twist of tomorrow with minimalist wired cotton. Still, the groovy beat of the label wasn’t totally lost in space, with crushed velvet suiting and slinky turtlenecks.
The brand has forged ahead with its accessories business in the past few seasons, and this time around there was an entire room at the presentation dedicated to Ellery’s new cosmic jewelry. The golden sunburst earrings, brooches, and cowrie shell chokers that were arranged like planets in the solar system had a cool, witchy charm. There were several collectibles in the shoe department as well, including an ankle bootie with a Perspex heel that had a miniature planet earth floating inside. Wherever fashion will end up in the long run, the short-term future of those trophy pieces seems pretty bright.
