GFW: Manchester

all imgs from catwalking.com

Manchester was the last show i saw, the last show of GFW and the last to be blogged about (other than the Gala...). they had a bit of a 'classroom' theme going on; a little gimmicky but cute, with the whole class sitting on the stage as we took our seats and then getting up at the start of the show; their first names written on the blackboard and the models posing about some desks for the line-up...

Amy Bant showed a knitwear collection with interesting details (cut outs; ruffles...) and great proportions (we all know i'm talking about look 4 in partics) in a neutral colour palette, while Maria Hawkins did the complete opposite; managing to produce one of my most coveted collections of GFW. bright pinks and oranges were colour blocked with white in shapes which brought to mind both prada/miu miu (the shirt in look 4, particularly) and my dream silhouette. every piece here is youthful and fresh and recognisably high end AND wearable, and the details are wonderful (i even included some close-ups, see?). i did honestly gasp out loud a little at the show at the last outfit; wantneedwant etc

Toni Stott's colour palette was equally as dreamy - greys, creams, browns and a beautiful dusty pink (and, err, see through plastic, which came in a collarless coat and a skirt), all in floaty, grunge-y shapes; varying degrees of sheer and wonderful layering. John Earnshaw carried on the grunge feel (love the stiff cropped shirt and calf length, straight cut skirt silhouette in look 6. again, very prada, non?) but with a large dollop of shiny, shiny metallic prints (? - most have the look of paint splatters of metallic paint; really cool.) and an interesting colour palette (black, silver, purple...).

for me, though Olivia Hewitt, who was second in the running order, really stole the show.

as much as i'd like to own Maria Hawkin's collection; Olivia's was the one that made me really sit up in my seat and take note - the prints work so well both with each other and with the sheer pieces. looks 2&5 were the real success stories - i can't resist a graphic black&white print, let alone lots of mismatched ones. (also, i can't help but notice the models are wearing the Wolford grid that i covet but can't afford cos they're 30 quid.)

Amy Bant

Maria Hawkins

Toni Stott

John Earnshaw

Olivia Hewitt