Bottega Veneta, AW11, Milan.
We often think of luxury high end garments as being made of fine fabrics which have been beautifully cut and finished with a certain sense of finesse and polish. This can be offset at times by more rough and ready techniques which act to make the clothes more effortless – luxury that isn’t trying too hard.
A perfect example of some of these techniques was in the Bottega Veneta for Autumn-Winter 2011. While the silhouettes and gorgeous fabrics reinforced some of fashions more classical ideas of elegance, it was given a more casual edge by using subtle techniques. Some of the fabrics were given a texture that appeared from afar to be like a roughed up tweed or bouclé but up close the fabric seemed to be pre-worn or pilled. At other times what could have been a piped edge, is actually the rolled edge of an unfinished jersey seam allowance. Stitches such as overlocking and zig zag are used as decorative topstitching, where they would normally be used hidden away inside the garment.
These details were complemented by beautiful accessories such as a surreal eye motif, vivid tones of jewellery and an array of matching clutches in rich velvets and lacelike designs.
Images from Vogue.co.uk»
