The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2020 - Issue 27

bite fashion A creator of easy-to-wear, beautifully detailed, and distinctive designs and collections for women liv- ing life according to their rules, Deborah Lyons is synonymous with empowered femininity, effort- less and versatile tailoring, and a strong point of view. The designer’s wealth of knowledge and experience in fashion and accessories derives from her background in Fine Art and earning a degree in Fashion Design at the Parsons School of Design after she moved to New York in 2005. Following this, she interned at NicoleMiller and then worked with twin shoe designers who had a company in New York before moving to Italy to learn shoemaking in the Marche region. Here, she designed and developed a small collection that was quickly picked up by Harrods, Dover Street Market, Liberty, and Matches amongst others. Deborah also became the designer of a tailoring brand based in New York whose collection was sold to Browns, Henry Bendel, Intermix, and Takashimaya. When she returned to London, Deborah ventured into de- sign consultancy in various capacities for companies that included J. Mendel and Melissa Odabash, as well as a variety of young fashion labels. In late 2016, she partnered up with buyer and boutique owner Kamelia Kamel to launch her namesake brand. Kamelia’s invaluable retail experience and business acumen, as well as her innate sense of style, have given the young British brand a dynamic foundation. Deborah Lyons revealed she started her brand because she saw a gap in the market for a high-quality British brand that does not break the bank but also delivers pieces that last and which can be revisited for years to come. “We wanted a brand that was transitional, timeless, and effortless. We believe that there are some staple pieces that every woman should have in their wardrobe and we wanted to create these but make them fun and unique, where any woman could wear them no matter what style they have.” Britain’s rich history of tailoring inspired the brand’s founda- tion of transitional, timeless, and effortless styling, which is exclusively made from the best British and European fabrics. Besides also being inspired by the incredible women Debo- rah has had the privilege of meeting along her journey, the brand is influenced by punk, street style, Savile Row, and middle England. It is designed for the modern woman who wants to go straight from work to a night out or a rock con- cert wearing the same garment. The designer cites singer Rihanna, actresses Zoe Kravitz and Millie Bobby Brown, and American politician AOC (Alex- andria Ocasio-Cortez) as her muses and says, “I think all of these women are so different but all represent the mod- ern-day woman with their own unique style and free spirit.” Thus, it is powerful, inspiring women like these and other like-minded tribes of trailblazing women who direct their paths to the future that Deborah Lyons champion and design her collections for. Her SS20 collection entitled ‘Soon We Will Be Strangers’ pays tribute to a darkly romanticised British adolescence, the yearning for widening horizons, striving for individuality and independence, and above all, a desire for the unknown. It plays on proportions of sophisticated silhouettes, adding volume to counterbalance Lyons’ signature tailoring. You will see exaggerated shoulders and nipped in sleeves that complement the female form, framing the body, and accen- tuating the waist. Lustre morning rose white hues and timeless blacks balance rainbow colours of peony, fuchsia, seafoam, sand-wave blue, and glistening metallics are the colour palettes for this sea- son’s collection. The Daisy Dress in pink is a classic Debo- rah Lyons silhouette featuring a high waisted cut-out, slit sleeves, and frills along the cuff, neckline, and hem. Equally interesting is the Alaska Jumpsuit with a corseted top with vintage-inspired button detailing and a cut-out, wide-leg trousers. For a metallic look, the Tempest Dress in a silk crepe pacific blue with vintage-inspired seam detailing, oversized layered cuffs, and adjustable back neckline tie is ideal. This modern classic midi dress is beautifully detailed and easy-to-wear. Another metallic piece, the London Dress, is also a midi dress with a tucked waist detail and vintage-inspired covered buttons and side slits. This would be great to wear to a small gathering or a summer party with no fuss. If you want to brighten things up in the boardroom, the Har- ley Shirt in a silk sunset pink and classic shirting silhouette will do the trick. This boldly feminine look features a tie neck and ruffles detailing. Wear it with Saskia Trousers in pink for that striking killer look. In the same silk apparel is the Piper Shirt, a classic shirting silhouette in pacific blue. This beauti- fully detailed shirt features oversized cuffs and an oversized collar, and can be worn with Bronte Shorts for a complete set. Another hot pink number is the Aiden Dress, a slim-fitting mini dress with oversized draped shoulders and button de- tailing along the sleeve which will turn heads for all the right reasons. For that tartan look, consider the Beretta Blazer, a classically tailored silhouette with satin pleated cuffs and tie waistband. It is designed in custom-made Deborah Lyons check for the perfect mix of bold yet effortless. Pair it with Saskia Trousers in green multi-check to make it a suit. All pieces in Deborah Lyons’ SS20 collection are available to purchase online. https://deborahlyons.co.uk Cristina Lloyd looks at Deborah Lyons’ beautiful SS20 collection that is full of bright colours and innovative styles. DEBORAH LYONS