TIPPED to be the designer of, the soon to be princess, Megan Markle’s dress for the upcoming royal wedding, Erdem showcased his latest AW18 collection during LFW. Erdem Moralioglu, a favourite designer by other members of the royal family, has been the number one bet for Markle’s wedding dress designer since announcement of the wedding, with some bookies putting 2-1 odds on him. Although no rumours have yet been confirmed, Erdem dropped a big hint in this collection.
Lining the seats of the runway, small, ribbon-tied booklets opened to reveal the muse for Erdem’s collection, Adele Astaire. Famed for being sister of Fred Astaire, Adele is also known for marrying into the royal family, after getting wed to Lord Charles Cavendish and giving up her thriving career as a showgirl. Using Astaire’s life as inspiration, Erdem produced a highly structured collection, excelling in sophistication and elegance.
Visual associations with the ‘20s are notable, influenced by a flapper dress given to Adele by her brother Fred, the plunging V-necks and midi-length hems are also synonymous with fashion of the time. The soft velvets and feathers used also bring with them an element of the ‘20s. However, this is in contrast to a seemingly ‘80s influence, as boxy blazers and shoulder pads contributed to the collection. Subtle floral prints and dainty lace feature heavily throughout the show, kept in cohesion by the mature colour palette and accents in metallic tones. The collection drew to a close as the last outfit; a beaded cape and skirt two-piece graced the runway, leaving us still guessing if he will be Markle’s bridal gown designer.
by Todd Burns