LONDON FASHION WEEK : TOPSHOP UNIQUE A/W11

WHERE : London Fashion Week
WHAT : Autumn / Winter collection
WHO : Topshop Unique
Your more then likely wondering how and why this review is so short. There is a good reason for it. I checked out the Unique show, like I always do as one of the first shows of LFW because it's normally a good indicator of what the hot trends are and its kinda affordable. So therefore it is one of the first places I check.
However, not this time. I'm going to go back and have a second look but this was pretty damn bad. There was fur. Lots and lots of fur. (faux clearly) But it looked terrible. I could see where they were going. It just did not sit right or well. It looked cheap and tacky. I sat there staring. I couldn't quite summon the words to describe it. It just looked bad. So what I have done is pick the best pieces from the show. The ones I liked (kinda) and posted them so at least there is something from Unique on the round up.
The trouser suit is back, and this time it's playing with shape. I know it's not, but I kinda feel like there is a 40's edge to this suit. But I know it's the color. Other then that it's totally 80's. I do like it. I think the overall effect is very Moschino.
This season seems obsessed with how you wear collars. High or low? We have already seen quite a few high collars at New York and now London is all over the low. Adds a cute kitsch sort of feel.

Another issue I had with this collection was that I was unable to get the feel for it. Fashion tends to have 'a woman' in mind when designing. For example, last summer TU focused on the glamour. It was 70''s over indulgence, it was all about the nightlife. This was a woman who looked to studio 54 for inspiration, danced all night and smoked by the pool in Miami by day. Going back to A/W10, the character was woodland creature. Inspired by the great outdoors and the constant struggle to combine fashion and warmth. She was cozy in layers.
I could not get the over all of this one at all. Which again, is odd for TU. Normally their style really jumps out and there is clearly a theme. This seemed a bit messy
I am liking the black dots on the nose. TU are all about the crazy make-up. Last A/W we had the insane unibrow forest creature effect and now this. But you can see that they have really moved on from the 70's influences of summer. Marc Jacobs was the same. It seems to be that the 70's only has one season in it. So therefore, it means you have to choose your pieces from this current collection carefully. I think the pleated skirt (see above) is a carry on from the season so a safe bet. But instead of the pleated maxi skirt/trouser we are seeing a shorter hem and a mid length skirt.
I am in love with this skirt. I simply must have it. It must be mine. Oh yes.....This collection seems to be all about the waist as well. belted or high waisted with fitted blouses, jackets. It's all about showing off.

TRENDS TO WATCH :
Fur (faux though!)
leather
blouses
skinny belts
boxy handbags
mid length skirts
pleats

MARKS OUT OF TEN :5. A collection I could take or leave. Nothing inspired me (bar that leather skirt) and nothing made me sit up and want to buy instantly. A good collection should make you question who you are as a consumer. It should make you want to change your style for something different and believe in the change. (even if you dont actually do it) It should inspire difference. This just failed to do that for me. Which for TU, is wrong. I normally want to dress just like how they do. Not to mention that the fur looked cheap, fake and nasty.