Walk This Way fashion show Review
It’s taken a while to put this review together, not from my usual disorganisation, but rather because I’ve been thinking it through after the furore that erupted round Leeds Rocks, and the intelligent blog posts Hebe Media recently published concerning the state of fashion in Leeds.
To start with, I applaud the drive and ambition of the Walk This Way project, as I would support any project that really tried to do something different. However, the event felt a little flat. Too large a venue (the 02) created an almost unwelcome atmosphere, although it did begin to fill up as the night progressed. I’m not a music critic so while the combination of music and fashion was fun, I can’t comment in any informed, critical way on the bands. Saying that, the lighting and staging was excellent, and sound quality reverberatingly good! Hannah Trigwell and band were technically brilliant and I enjoyed the energy they brought to the show.
The fashion showcased at the event filled me with absolute ambivalence. One glitter encrusted gold dress, a jewel toned colour block workwear outfit, and a white chiffon 40s style suit were the best of the bunch and ultimately wearable, although insufficiently innovative to be presented as the best of Leeds talent. The rest of the show I met with either a ‘fine’ or ‘meh’, with nothing particular to write home about.
That was, except for the parade of underwear clad models in heels and nowt but a fur hat or coat. In October. This piece of lazy styling dragged the show down and made it feel incomplete and dull. Fur coats are the indie kid’s winter choice: why not style what seemed to be a perfectly nice coat into an appealing outfit, instead of resorting to the lazy tool of leaving these women in their knickers? Similarly, a selection of pretty printed kimono-style nightwear was dressed over bra and pants. I get that’s what many might wear to bed, but why not push the boat out and create some unique interpretations of the garment with layered pieces and a few accessories? The resulting simplistic styling instead was unimpressive and transparent in more ways than one. Styling overall was a mish-mash of incredible hair from Toni & Guy, and sloppy points like those mentioned above, including a model dressed in a sophisticated outfit and finished with tatty, scuffed shoes; especially daft as the catwalk was at just under the eyeline of the front (predominantly press) row.
This idea of something feeling unfinished was a common thread in the show, partly due to this being the first year it has run in Leeds. There are lessons to be learnt from the show that will hopefully be developed and solved for next time, in the same way that any new project has to discover what was good, and what was bad, about the event. But when I go to a fashion show, I want to be wowed by the fashion, not respond with a casual shrug or ‘meh’. Actually, just to be even slightly interested in the fashion would do – it should attract and inspire conversation, not fall flat. Some attractive pieces at Walk This Way were overshadowed by a heap of naff stuff that didn’t do anything to help me believe this was meant to be a representation of Leeds, either the city or its fashion. A project full of potential but lacking a concrete manifestation of its aims – this time – that I hope will build on constructive criticism to develop a better, brighter show next year.
As always, let us know what you think: did you attend the show? What were your thoughts? What would you like to see next time?
Hi Eleanor. Typical I am the first to respond though as I feel the majority of the ‘negative remarks’ are aimed at the styling, I feel it necessary to feedback with my thoughts. I take on board your points about the venue and its such a shame that the venue was not full to capacity (wow imagine if it was)but I was totally happy with the staging, lighting, models, bands and designers/shop involvement. I feel that Diego put is heart and soul into this years project and it showed with how professional the whole event and lead up to it was, helping raise the profile of many brilliant shops and designers in Leeds including, Bird’s Yard, Beth Couture Hats, MKI, Roc and Doll and Skadi Hats, not to mention showcasing Lisa Jayne Dann’s exclusive Spring/Summer 2012 collection, which you appear to have failed to mention either way, though the feedback on that to date has been amazing. You have also failed to mention any of the designers or shops when you have said parts were dull, so you may wish to elaborate there so that they can gain the benefit of your thoughts of the night. As you know it is feedback such as this, good and bad that help us all grow in our respective industries so in order for us all to take on board your thoughts, can I ask that you give us a little more information. I appreciate that skantily clad models are not for everybody (I didnt hear the men complaining, lol) but the designers/shops again had input in respect of this and for instance Skadi hats absolutely love the hats being shown that way as that is all they sell, and as for the kimono’s, its a one off 1920’s amazing print Japanese authentic Kimono, to detract from the beauty of it would be sacrilege and who would want to hide their clothes under that piece of art!
I am also confused somewhat by your contradicting critisizms in that you wish to be wowed at a fashion show, but then state there was no wearable fashion!
I whole heartedly feel sorry for the designers/shops that you have referred to their clothes as ‘Meh’, when the economy dictates that there is not enough money to go around, and you may well have just prevented people even bothering with these shops with your comments, which would be a shame as I for one believe in every single one of those people and believe they have a great deal to offer our City.
Hi Taheed!
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment on my review of Walk this Way. Although there’s lots of points in there, I think the main question you’d like to see answered is which designers/shops in particular I liked/disliked.
Unfortunately, as far as I can remember, during the show we weren’t provided with information on the designers/shops that were being modelled at the time. Some of the items I spotted from previous shows and from my pre-show research (including Skadi Hats, Roc and Doll, Lisa Jayne Dann and MKI) but for many of the items I’m afraid I don’t know exactly which designers they were from due to the lack of information.
As an avid supporter of independent fashion in Leeds, I believe it is every critic’s and consumer’s right to question the quality and validity of the fashion on display, especially when it is displayed as ‘the best’ of Leeds. If you care to read my review of Leeds Fashion Show over on my blog (http://themagicsquarefoundation.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/leeds-fashion-show/) you’ll see that Roc and Doll in particular were some of my favourite items shown at that event. MKI and Bird’s Yard are both excellent shops and I have attended their openings/events in the past; however, my support for these enterprises does not mean I should unequivocally support all independent designers in Leeds.
After looking at the various websites of the designers shown, I can see why lots of people like them, and again I applaud the fact that they are being shown and promoted – that doesn’t mean they are all to my particular taste. I do not think House of Skadi is interesting and found that particular display dull (as mentioned above), and if both you and the designer had collaboration in the styling then that’s fantastic, but my point that I didn’t like it and felt it was lazy still stands.
As I mention in the review, it’s exciting that projects full of passion like this are taking place and, after speaking to Diego in person, I know how passionate and enthusiastic he is about this project. As I argue, this project is full of potential and I think it will be great to see what the team comes up with next year – this year I didn’t feel it met the expectations it set for itself.
Again, thank you for commenting: the point of Culture Vulture is to get people conversing about best practice – as well as a host of other things – so it’s always good to hear from those involved with the project.
If you haven’t seen theme, there’s also two other reviews of Walk this Way from some of my fellow fashion bloggers that you might like to read:
Laura – http://www.aforteforfashion.co.uk/2011/10/event-walk-this-way.html
Lauren – http://www.fashionlooksnorth.co.uk/2011/10/walk-this-way.html
All the best
Elly