As LFW comes to a close, I thought I would make my last LFW post a bit more interesting. Here I written two reviews for the Jaeger London A/W 10 show. Please read both before making any judgements, my aim was to play devils advocate and see what opinions you all had:
Jaeger London A/W 2001
Review A:
In 2008 Jaeger London made its runway début. At the time the whispers were fairly snobbish in option as to what a high street store; a 125 year old, somewhat frumpy high street store was doing parading itself around London Fashion Week. The critics were soon silenced. The collection was extremely wearable but with enough fashion forward pieces to hold its own on the runway.
Now two years later Jaeger is still going strong, with a collection of very wearable pieces. There was a slightly equestrian feel to the collection with jodhpurs and riding hats, which you might want to leave for the jockeys. But there were also beautifully tailored suits and separates, staples for any girls wardrobe. Eveningwear came in the most luxurious midnight blue velvet pieces, which included a pair of sky scraper stiletto heel boots. I defy anyone not to want to wear this collection.
Amongst these delicious basics there were of course Jaeger’s famous standout pieces, a moss green laser cut cape, a patchwork jumpsuit in pink and ochre which both have me extremely excited for winter (erm actually I guess it still is, ok next winter). Which reminds me of why I love Jaeger so much, it comes with high street prices. What other collection can you see at Fashion Week and then actually have hopes of wearing? That for me seals the deal; Jaeger really does fly the flag for British fashion.
Review B:
In 2008 Jaeger London made its runway début. At the time the whispers were fairly snobbish in option as to what a high street store; a 125 year old, somewhat frumpy high street store was doing parading itself around London Fashion Week. The critics were silenced though as the slightly 60s/ 70s hippy-luxe collection bridged the gap between high street and high fashion. The collection was extremely wearable but with enough fashion forward pieces to hold its own on the runway. That two-tone Mongolian jacket is now synonymous with the brand, that tan cape was there well before this seasons Chloe. In fact I own two of the beautifully crafted and designed mohair capes. It was exciting for the average woman to be able to afford catwalk pieces.
The following S/S collection had some bright fun and very wearable clothes but was without any high fashion standout pieces. The following A/W lacked direction and the high street quality really showed. S/S 10 again held the same issues, sure there were very wearable pieces, such as the loose white blazers and cropped high waist pants. Pieces I would likely go into Jaeger and buy, but do they have a place on the runway?
For me this A/W 10 collection sealed the deal for me, with a mash up of previously successful designers collections it screamed high street, albeit high end. If you define high street as good quality, affordable pieces influenced by the runway designers. The main theme was equestrian, there were Jodhpur style trousers worn with blazers and riding hats, remind you of Balenciaga, There were snaffle detail belts, floaty shirts and slim pants, Gucci anyone? Then a dash of Chloe with camel, khaki and beige basics for day and tassel belted velvet for evening.
That’s not to say there was no originality, the patchwork pink and ochre jumpsuit and dress were stunning, the oversized blazers were quite unique and the paper-bag waist pants very flattering. The question is the appropriateness of showing a high street collection at LFW when the schedule is so tight, and to put on a show so expensive. When the brand could save on the expense and passed that on to the consumer in discounted prices, as let’s not forget the prices at Jaeger rival many designer brands.
Or do we look at it on the other hand, would you like to see more high street collections on the runway?I sn’t it time for a shake up?
Grazia’s Paula Reed questions the appropriateness of showing ‘celeb designers’ such as Alexa Chung, Victoria Beckham and the Olsen’s alongside ‘traditional’ designers.
I think both these pose great debate, and yep I am playing Devil’s Advocate here, but what do you think?
Should High Street have a place on the catwalk? Are celeb designers ‘real’ designers worthy of showing at Fashion Week?
Pearl
