Kristian Aadnevik’s SS16 show was presented in an opulent historical setting of a grandiose library at One Whitehall Place. As the show was running half an hour late, guests in tight mini dresses and killer high heels were gradually arriving, while the others were sipping on served champagne while waiting.
The Norwegian designer was inspired by Roman mythology and the fragile, yet wild, beauty of roses for his SS16 collection of exclusively dresses as the models emerged from a gate covered in roses looking like hybrids between Roman goddesses and forest nymphs with the top of their hair nonchalantly braided and the rest left out in streaming waves. Their cheeks were made fresh with pink blush and continued on the eyelids as an eyeshadow with matching lips.
At times the looks were so daring the models seemed like they were wearing almost nothing but a thin haze, haze of delicate lace or smooth chiffon in soft colours of white, pink, nude, peach and baby blue with occasional black, resembling luxurious lingerie. Dresses were covered in soft rose print cut into little frills or a print of Classical Roman sculptures.
The dresses were made extra short and extra tight. Bustier mini dresses were adorned with stripes of leather or python or heavily embellished with pearls and floral applique. Some of them were made of soft leather that fitted like a second skin and looked like one in hues of nude and light brown with added details like studs, lacing and gold zippers going all the way down at the back. Other looks were long and flowing in the air with dangerously high slits to stick to the revealing theme.
by Sara Hesikova
Images by Don Carlo