From the moment Cruella de Vil blasted out of the speakers in Old Billingsgate Market marking the start of the Topshop Unique show, we knew we were in for a treat. Gone were last season’s flowing 70s jumpsuits and super crimped locks and here came the dogs, Dalmatians to be exact. The print was on everything from chunky Mary Jane shoes to big faux-fur coats and perfectly integrated with the high street store’s mix of everyday separates and covetable partywear.
With a stylist like Katie Grand, a certain degree of quirk is to be expected and with some of the models sporting black puppy noses and ear shaped buns, it wouldn’t have been hard to imagine this show going too far, but it didn’t. From the wearability of the shoes to the wide range of silhouettes, this Unique collection is sure to be the brand’s most successful as it integrated some of the most popular trends of the season. We saw lower hemlines, higher necklines, and an Art Deco feel that is guaranteed to be big this fall.
The 1930s references didn’t stop there; there was an air of pre-war boardwalk style that saved the collection from becoming a spectacle and thank goodness for that. Marc Jacobs took polka dots to a new level this season but if you’re looking for a more playful, and less rubbery, way to work the trend, look no further than the spotted prints that adorned everything from sweaters to shawls.
Photos: Vincenzo Grillo, IMAXtree
