A/W2012 press days | Naomi bites the dust

Since most of Team Style & Then Some are 9-to-5ers, we’ve recently roped in some fashion blogger pals to help us scout out upcoming collections and new talent at the autumn/winter press days taking place this month. In the first of several guest posts, Naomi Morello tells us about how she was recruited and her visit to Dust PR.

It all happened so fast. It was a dull Sunday evening and  I was slumped on my couch, idly scrolling through Facebook and thinking of a new excuse to call in sick at work the next day (I HATE Mondays). Suddenly, a particular status update caught my attention: my friend Katie from Style & Then Some was recruiting aspiring writers to attend a series of press events around London. I answered. Fifteen minutes later, there I was with a list full of press days to attend and a smile like I hadn’t had in days. Ah, the power of Facebook.

Being a lifelong fan of Barbour, I was looking forward to visiting Dust PR, Barbour’s PR agency. I was greeted with a glass of champagne by a friendly PR who held my extremely heavy bag and talked me through everything on show.

First up was the second spring/summer collection by the Irish-born, Hong Kong-based designer Catherine Deane: a stunning selection of daytime dresses and evening gowns (apparently Catherine doesn’t believe in trousers) bursting with texture and color. Among the fabrics used are leather, lace (check out the photo below), silk, leather, beading and tulle.

Rokit, one of the leading vintage stores in London, caught my attention with a series of stunning accessories: thick layered turbans decorated with golden baroque charms have a real 1930′s glamour feel, and the lovely crochet detachable collars add a cute vintage edge to an outfit. Also, definitely keep an eye out for their handmade leather brogues, I really want a pair.

Finally, the collection I had been waiting for the most: Barbour has really spruced up its image lately with a series of designer collaborations. Alice Temperley has given women even more incentive to wear Barbour by creating elegantly draped capes and waist-hugging trench coats that still maintain the brand’s hard-wearing qualities.

The Steve McQueen collection had a much tougher feel. I didn’t quite understand how a dead actor could design a collection, but it turns out the clothes are inspired by McQueen, to ‘pay homage to one of the most famous wearers of the International jacket.’ As well as classic Barbour jackets, the McQueen flannel shirts, printed tees and coats stained with fake mud nailed that ‘just-got-back-from-Glastonbury’ look.

About these ads