The Morakot Outdoor Parking of Central Chidlom was temporarily transformed into a fashion wonderland as Elle/Elle Men Fashion Week 2015 brought together top Thai designers and their followers to enjoy spring/summer 2015 collections.
Fans might be more familiar with the iconic white tent in front of CentralWorld, but for this special event, Elle and Elle Men decided to bring the event back to its former home at Central Chidlom.
Usually, Elle Fashion Week is organised in October to showcase autumn/winter collections, but this year, given the more vibrant economy after a rather gloomy 2014, hosting a spring/summer fashion show only made sense.
The event included 10 shows, running from last Friday to Sunday. Here's a rundown of what went on inside that marvellous white tent.
Day 1
Issue
As far as first impressions go, Issue presented just the right image of the event as a whole. The seats were fully occupied. Some guests stood, some squeezed into tight spots, just to get a glimpse of this inaugural show. And Issue did not disappoint. The motivation behind this collection, "Nai", is the Wild Tiger Corps established by King Rama VI. The marching band tune stimulated a courageous feel, while the dimly lit atmosphere gave a feeling of being in the woods. The main colour scheme for the collection is white and green, with leafy prints to lend a camp-like feeling. The show also featured elaborate headpieces bordering on Chinese opera costume, as well as an unusual carrying method for a tote bag — hanging it on the head under the cap. — NR
Nagara
If you are looking for weather-appropriate feminine pieces, Nagara is your go-to choice. Featuring light, flowing fabric in pastel tones, the collection gives a fresh summery feel that is simple, refreshing and colourful. The use of contrasting textures makes the otherwise plain pieces more eye-catching, while the lightweight nature of the fabric makes the clothes flutter beautifully as you walk. Think women's nightwear fabric, with a more stylish twist. These are simple pieces that will not go out of style. — NR
Vickteerut Presented by Downy Timeless
Vickteerut's spring/summer 2015 collection is inspired by a cruise. The colour palette includes black, white, baby blue, mint green, beige and grey, which remind us of the sky and sea. The first part of the show featured special dresses designed to represent Downy Timeless, which are all-white dresses showcased against a white backdrop on a white runway. The second part of the show was the brand's collection, presented with live classical music playing in the background. The looks evoke a feeling of being on a holiday by the beach, with tousled hair, simple and light clothes, and Knot & Twist elements inspired by rope knots. The silhouette is loose and comfortable with the use of oversized design and pleated fabric. — NR
Day 2
Anchavika
The second night's first show started off the evening with a loud bang — namely with the sound of clanging metal against the pumping music and large fan engine backdrop spinning in the background. Black dominated the collection, as usual with Anchavika. This time Victorian silhouettes and shapes get crossed with the punkish elements and motifs relating to locomotives and the industrial revolution, in the collection aptly named "Dolly Steampunk". There's less colour than last season, but the sequin embroideries are all over the place, along with studs, spikes and all things that bring Vivienne Westwood to mind. The foot-tall hair, from mohawks to curly afros, and face piercings were bold, if not bolder than the actual outfits. Given the outrageousness of everything, especially when the entire pack of models came out together at the end, it felt like an Addams Family parade. — PP
Central Visions of Style
In what was basically a walking catalogue for things available in the Central Department Store, world-class brands chosen to grace the catwalk were La Petite Robe, Sandro, Maje, Vivienne Tam, ICB, Tara Jarmon, 23 Ku and Valerie Khalfon. Many of the looks seemed to be thrown together to cram as many different pieces into the show as possible — resulting in many brightly coloured, but mismatched looks. Yet, this presentation really let you see each piece for what it really is on its own merit, regardless of whether it matches other things or not. Lots of bright, solid colours were on the runway and suit the summery vibe. There's a really fab red blazer but the problem is we have no idea which brand it came from. Is the clueless hunt for certain pieces that comes post-show a conspiracy by Central so we spend more time at their malls!? — PP
Asava
This season, the classy girl's favourite go-to Asava is all about "The State of Mind", drawing inspiration from the emancipation of women and the Statue of Liberty. Although the set was simple, it had a high-impact approach, when a splash of light suddenly flooded the dark hall to reveal a pastel-pink runway. The white, blue and black colourblock poncho blouses, cowl-back tops and one-shoulder cocktail dresses popped against the catwalk. Most revolved around officewear, although pieces that bring the sport-luxe trend to light are also available. Bermuda shorts that sport the side stripe can bring in the luxe factor to casual outfits. In fact, it's the black flared pants with the side stripes that could pass off both as sporty or glamorous at the same time. Plaid is the print of this collection, coming in two pairings between Persian blue with shamrock green and salmon pink with moss green. — PP
The Only Son
It's easy to dismiss The Only Son as a mere minimalistic brand, especially with its no-frills show and seemingly plain clothes. But look a bit closer and their meticulously detailed pieces will definitely leave an impression, the way the show's Danish punk band music by Var did. Their second show with Elle Fashion Week brought practical but discretely eye-catching pieces to the stage, such as carefully-crafted blazers, backless dresses and tops that boasted immaculate beading that didn't peacock. There are more than a handful of LBDs to choose from this season, all with their own little gimmicks that makes it transcend this typical category. Moody monochrome may be the main palette, but The Only Son plays with lines and 60s op art to create perspective and illusions of deep and shallow spaces. All may be black and white, but the sharp pleats, perfectly-positioned prints, tiny sheer windows and such little details make it the only thing on our minds right now. — PP
Day 3
Painkiller
Painkiller's show marked the first show of the Elle Men's contribution to the event. The day was dedicated to menswear, and Painkiller was a logical curtain-raiser given its popularity among Thai men. The "Former Future" collection by Painkiller is inspired by "Retrofuturism", which means the perception of the future by people in the past. While that might sound a bit confusing and complicated, the collection itself is pretty straightforward. Portrayed in black, white and exclusive "Klein Blue" colour that the brand has ordered specifically for this collection, this cool collection is casual and playful. The majority of the looks mixed casual with formal — work shirt with drawstring sweatpants, or T-shirt with a semi-formal jacket, for instance. The sporty pieces have a 1970s feel, which adds boyish charm to the look. — NR
Fri 27 Nov
This collection reminds the audience of the glory of our country's football heroes and the craze they spurred after winning the AFF Suzuki Cup last year. In the collection titled "Charm of the Winner", the men are decked in sporty, masculine clothes. The show featured 59 looks, with hip hop background music that saw many of the audience moving to the beat. There was a lot of colour blocking and bright hues (like silver and neon orange shoes, for example) which might not be typically seen as masculine, but somehow could be handsomely pulled off in this show. To wrap up the walk, the models formed two lines — the standard pose for a football team — for screaming fans to take pictures. — NR
Greyhound Original
Energetic and fast-paced, Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song is the anthem that starts Greyhound's "The World on the Bright Side" collection with an upbeat blast. The beauty of nature is the main inspiration and the season's signature print, expressed by crashing Henri Matisse's two-dimensional collage paintings with Kenneth Price's multilayered landscape works. The cartoonish panorama landscape gets cartoonish colours too, such as cobalt blue and orange. Considering that it's Greyhound, things aren't very edgy this season and are on the sleek and simple side, which lets the wearer, rather than the clothes, shine. The details are minimal, but when carried off the with right attitude and shades — or butt-long dreadlocks like one model — the Greyhound guy is looking very cool, yet clean cut this season. — PP
