Standing patiently in a cloyingly warm Science Museum, I awaited the much anticipated Basso and Brooke S/S 09 show. As previous winners of the inaugural Fashion Fringe award, the industry’s keen eye has been closely trained on this pair whose pioneering use of digital printing in their designs has got them considerable recognition across the fashion globe. And for those who relish Basso and Brooke’s mouth watering rainbow palettes and eye popping patterns, today’s show would not have disappointed.
For a season that has thus far produced predominantly wearable collections, with designers seemingly taking the title Ready-To-Wear quite literally, Basso and Brooke successfully managed to marry perfectly executed elegant dresses with outlandish prints that gave them the edge they would otherwise lack.
Beautifully tailored slash necked dresses with capped sleeves appeared in a variety of guises; either with a subtle fish tail, in bias cut silk or plaited chiffon. The beginning of the show had a distinct oriental feel to it, with multicoloured painterly floral prints and stiff slash like belts cinching in waists to a kimono like effect.
Less complex, but equally beautiful, geometric patterns offered something of a relief to the more chaotic prints that came sashaying down the catwalk. Meanwhile, flat topped hair, reminiscent of the great Grace Jones teamed with bright block colours gave some pieces a late eighties feel.
Accordion pleats and extravagant ruffling that have made several appearances on the London catwalks this week were also present in Basso and Brooke’s collection as was the seemingly obligatory one piece. With so much going on in this unique collection, anyone lucky enough to wear one of the pieces can be rest assured that they will look like no-one else.
