David Ferreira autumn/winter 2017 collection catwalk show for LFW

Something truly unique and out of the box, David Ferreira’s autumn/winter 2017 collection was a cabinet of curiosities. Inspired by freak shows, Ferreira’s designs pushed fashion to its extremes.

Huge structures of ruffles, feathers and fur transported you to a cabaret on acid. A colour palette of midnight blue, fuchsia, canary yellow, turquoise and pinks brought the brilliantly gaudy quality of the circus to each extravagant, avant-garde creation.

The opening track of the show, Lana Del Rey’s Gods and Monsters, set the tone for the parade of models, made freakishly tall by towering stilt-like wedges. This only slowed them down, giving the spectator many more moments to take in each outrageously stunning piece.

Clown-like makeup enhanced the models’ peculiar other-worldliness. Many of them were furry creatures; one fur coat was off the shoulder, whilst another model was cocooned in fur which extended to the level of the model’s head, creating an enormous silhouette that was hard to ignore, even for those sat in the back rows.

The models were transformed into sculptures themselves, entities dramatically enlarged by volumes created by decadent layers of ruffles reminiscent of avant-garde duo Viktor & Rolf. One was encased in an enormous, bauble-like dress of pastel blue, lilac and pink, its structure created by hundreds of bunches of tulle.

Whilst it was all about spectacle, the more-is-more mentality, the over-the-top, and the vivid colours, the volume was turned down ever so slightly with a tent-like gown with puffed up sleeves and a muted floral print in cream and blue-grey, almost resembling a Tudor-esque costume fit for a queen.

Meanwhile, a stunning chartreuse ruffled dress created a sleeker, more streamlined silhouette, but it remained beautifully ornate and fanciful.

A celebration of individuality, frivolity and the unorthodox, Ferreira’s collection was something absolutely unforgettable.

Isobel Bridgewood
Photos: Amy Smith