Steventai autumn/winter 2016 collection presentation for LFW

Steventai’s presentation at London Fashion Week autumn/winter 2016 was a cohesive piece with wonderful ideas on colour, cuts and aesthetics being presented. Clearly inspired by the matronly atmosphere of a grandmother’s home, this show housed its models inside a room made to look as if it were from the 40s or 50s. With models dressed to fit this aesthetic, the presentation gave a clear vision of elegant sophistication.

Steventai also took inspiration from the popular movie and book Freaky Friday. This could be seen in the juxtaposition of youthful models as well as elderly ones. With all of them dressed in a similar style, the difference in age made for a jarring effect on how various pieces and fabrics moved on each model.

The substance of the show was technically well done. All of the pieces were definitively feminine while not being revealing in any sense. A strong sense of modesty was pervasive throughout pieces and the actions of the models. Often seen flipping slowly through a book or working on a sewing project, the installation qualities reinforced the ideas present in the clothing. Other details which added to this matronly grandmother aesthetic were the heavy use of pearls. Jackets often used pearls as buttons and some especially significant gold-coloured eyeglasses with stunning “lanyards” looked to be entirely pearls.

The colours used in the collection where especially thematic and beautiful. With huge swashes of white, cream and navy taking over the largest pieces. The accents were not subtle at all either. Complimenting the base colours were lavenders, periwinkles, browns and gold. All the hues came together impressively to create a unique vision of the older generations viewed through a lens of youth and grace.

Matthew Pronchick

Photographs: Olesya Asonova