London Fashion Week: Christopher Kane: In the best possible bad taste

Published on 18/09/2012 03:27

He may be known for creating an entirely new and original collection every season, but followers of Christopher Kane’s creations have, in recent seasons, begun to spot the subtle threads that flow through his collections.

There’s his love of pastels for spring, for example, as well as references to his childhood, kitschy elements and unlikely fabric choices. All were present in his SS13 collection, which as ever, was hailed as a triumph.

What looked like it might be a whitewash of a collection when the first 12 models to step out wore head-to-toe white, gave way to delicate candy hues. Waists were bound in almost fetishistic manner, while references to Frankenstein were an unusual choice for spring; the monster’s looming silhouette appeared on T-shirts while shoes and bags featured white Perspex nuts and bolts.

As ever, Kane played with the line between hard and soft – delicate roses were embossed on to boxy white leather biker jackets, a fondant-pink skirt was criss-crossed with black gaffer tape –and pushed the boundaries of “good” taste.

His latest designs included binding dresses that were an explosion of iridescent ruffles; part trailer park, part gangster’s moll. Yet another Kane collection saw off all the competition and was quickly hailed the best of the week by fashion insiders – and all in the best possible bad taste.