Marchesa’s Georgina Chapman and Karen Craig celebrated the label’s 10th anniversary with a wanderlust whirlwind collection, set within the boundaries of London’s Banqueting House at Whitehall—perhaps the grandest architectural gem in the history of English construction. Though these masterpiece garments were not wandering back into the time of the Palace of Whitehall (although some proportions may suggest neoclassical style), but rather, they paraded the runway with 1960s free love, self-expression and spirituality attitudes. Yes, Woodstock was an inspiration.
This spring/summer 2015 collection, like others before, demonstrated couturier tendencies with the utmost attention to craftsmanship. There were hand embellishments and embroideries, including hand-studded floral arrangements that graced the necklines and bodices of few looks. And this ephemerality was really the romantic pinnacle of the collection; that these living ornamentations will pass into nothingness (but will make for divine potpourri). The finale gowns reaffirmed the label’s projection of material opulence—done in silk and lace—and perfect for those front row attendees including Rita Ora, Olivia Palermo, and Jena Malone.
The Marchesa conception of “youth”’ which has become a popular fixation seen on the runways during New York Fashion Week, was re-imagined in a fairytale narrative that will undoubtedly reach to those young, impressionable festivalgoers. Should they only dream of frolicking the muddy plains, adorned in Marchesa.
