stockholm fashion week: cheap monday
(images via mbfwb)
so there i was, all cheerful and practically beaming at my screen, ready to begin the review of the cheap monday a/w 2012 show at stockholm fashion week—opt’s first proper review, as all i’d given prior was a single look from the s/s 2012 range—but then i found myself all disgruntled, dismayed, and disappointed-like to find myself with scarcely any reviews on the subject! but lots and lots of pictures, of course (well, that will be a help should my image links go down, i suppose). and really, why anyone wouldn’t have something to say about this collection to go along with the pictures, i’ll tell you i’m quite sure i don’t know. ah, well. we have a little, at least (and where would opt be without my perpetual laments?).
anyineedtoshutmyhole, as elle explained, the fall show was held at the studio kvarnholmen, where we were treated to, in their opinion (trans.) “an 80’s - and 90’s-voice and a minimalist sleek, layer-on-stocking silhouette with rave feel.” the actual inspiration, as they went on to note, came from “ long cycles and natural evolution. Inspiration from the periodic table, history, DNA and fossils. Inspiration also comes from the east.” in truth, it reminded me a bit of what we might see out of the london-based topshop unique (see a/w 2011, s/s 2012), with their slightly quirky ideas and streetwear-inflected tones (especially the a/w 2009 range), if harder, edgier, and more daring.
the mbfws site also has some information spilled about the collection, expanding on what we’ve read above, presumably straight from the brand itself: “We found Eastern philosophy a fitting complement when looking for inspiration for the collection. Great patience and discipline leaves tracks as a contemporary martial arts influence. The balance of mind, spirit and body can also be spotted in an active wear touch, the paperbag waists, folded layering, kimono shaped tops and wide trousers.” elle cheerfully added that the asymmetrical layered thing the house had going was quite interesting, and i agree; surely not everyone will want to try out these looks as they stand, but pulling the components apart quickly reveals a lot of decent staples, oh-so-cleverly packaged together in styling.
in the end, i think it was good fun, with a lot of proper cold weather clothing. and, as you probably know, i tend to gravitate towards anything that looks like a composite of freebox apparel, but i think the designers had the right idea in mind by combining elements from rockabilly, active sportswear, eastern ideas, and even a little grunge—it basically ensures that everyone will be able to find something. i also appreciated that they didn’t try to drive it too close to stuff other houses have already done, whether it be rave, grunge, or hip-hop culture. sure, there are hints of that, but what cheap monday has created is a rather new look, and, although i’m sure a few people would shoot me dead in the streets for saying this, that’s something i think fashion has been in need of more of for some time now.
(check out a bit of catwalk video here)
