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CAITLIN PRICE AW17

Caitlin Price’s fifth collection at London Fashion Week looks beyond the themes of adolescent revelry from previous seasons. For Autumn/Winter 17, the sophisticated glamour of yesteryear is reengineered into contemporary, sculptural silhouettes.

Within the folds of her unique fabrications and wrapping techniques, Price proposes a new approach to power dressing. Formfitting constructions transform into elongated trains of silk, whilst regal draping spills from daring cutaways and chic, asymmetric drop shoulders.

Elegance exudes from the sleek skirts given a voluminous, tulle lift to accentuate the contours of a woman’s hips. Elsewhere, Price collages distinct fabrics to redefine classic eveningwear: taffeta and viscose are married together, whilst real and synthetic silks sit side by side. It is an expert lesson in luxury and artifice.

Price’s affinity for sportswear simmers in ski-inspired, high-necked tops and zip-off, wide-leg slacks, juxtaposed with detachable skirt-cum-gowns. A cropped bomber is adorned with Price’s first foray into print; a warped ink blot camouflage, peppered with Caitlin Price monogram. Throughout, silver and black are the foundations for a refined, colour-blocked palette with vivid strokes of cobalt blue and magenta.

Continuing her collaboration with art director Joseph Bond, the environment for Autumn/Winter 17 melds high and low-end aesthetics. References to whitewashed shop front windows and sublime landscapes by Casper David Friedrich are merged within a mountainous, mirrored world that reflects both the softness and sharp lines of Price’s collection.

Caitlin Price is from South London. She graduated from the Central Saint Martins MA Fashion Womenswear course in 2013 where she was awarded the Armani Scholarship under the late Professor Louise Wilson. Caitlin launched her eponymous brand in 2015 as part of the Fashion East initiave. Caitlin showed her debut collection at LFW in Feb at the ICA,and has since shown at Tate Britain and Selfridges. Price was shortlisted as a semi-finalist for the prestigious LVMH prize for young fashion designers in Paris 2016.

The brand is stocked internationally and available from stores including Selfridges (London), Harvey Nichols (London) and Caitlin-price.co.uk