LFW – Bora Aksu S/S 2014 collection

We don’t know if Bora Aksu took the London weather on the morning of Friday the 13^th into consideration, but he certainly delivered on his promise to deliver a collection inspired by a fresh summer’s morning; that clear blue sky, whispering clouds, clear still waters and refreshing scents.  Gripping double shot lattes for dear life, editors and bloggers huddled beneath their umbrellas at the BFC Showroom for the opening show of London Fashion Week. 

London based Turkish designer, Bora Aksu brought us a mainly neutral palette with pops of summery yellow, bright pink and a range of blues.  Silhouettes were kept traditional and modest, suitable for only the chicest of housewives.  Intricate crochet and ruffles kept the collection beautifully elegant and feminine, a look Bora has become known for.  The soundtrack included a Beirut favourite, “Postcards from Italy” and other deep Mediterranean-meets-Middle Eastern sounds reminded us of the designer’s roots and carried the collection beautifully.

Since graduating from Central St Martins’s MA in 2002, Aksu has gone on to collaborate with some of the biggest names in the biz like Topshop, Nike, Anthropologie and Selfridges.  His twisted romantic aesthetic has not only caught the hearts of celebrities like Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley, but has rightfully earned himself Designer of the Year at the Elle Style Awards in Turkey and a spot on the judging panel of the WGSN Global Fashion Awards.  The designer has developed such an unmistakable signature through the juxtaposition of femininity with a hard edge that fashion week moguls Dolce and Gabbana have purchased a few of his pieces as sources of inspiration.  We agree with mother Vogue in saying, “The buzz around Bora Aksu is ever-growing; it’s easy to see why.” 

Christianna Pugliese

 Photos: Alessio Parator