London Fashion Week shows offered attendees a chance to escape London’s torrential rain, so it was ironic that Orla Kiely chose to bring the showers inside for her Autumn/Winter 2014 show. Wearing shoes from the designer’s second collection with Clarks (which launches online and in stores on Sept. 5), models stepped out to the sound of rainfall and a haunting live performance of “Singin’ in the Rain.”
The designer presented a series of retro-inspired coats, devoré velvet party dresses, slim printed trousers, chunky knits, and a procession of her trademark prints in shades of navy, camel, beige, black, grey, pale pink, and blue. The show’s title was “It’s Raining Cats and Dogs,” and while the former presented themselves in the expected way – as pretty prints in various sizes on shirtdresses, full skirts, and blouses – the latter was more literal. One model posed cuddling a tiny black puppy, and another carried a fluffy purse emblazoned with the face of a bichon frise.
That purse was just one of the many standout accessories we’ll all be coveting come September. From clip-top bags with black-and-white flower prints to tooled leather doctor’s bags in a series of autumnal shades, there were no shortage of styles on offer. Perhaps the biggest hits, however, were the shoes: a second collaboration with high street footwear brand Clarks that will launch later this year. Take a closer look at the new styles, plus the entire ready-to-wear collection, below.
Photo: Gemma Cartwright
