The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2019 - Issue 26

bite catwalk T he bold, the beautiful and the brave! Hellavagirl pre- sented the ‘Wolves in the Walls’ collection, a hauntingly beautiful fairytale of avant-garde gowns. A performance of theatrics, religious imagery, and overwhelming fabric encapsulated the wearer with deep luxurious tones which set the mood of the show with golds, greens, white, red, cream, royal blue, and black. The layering of tones and textures created sculpture-like dresses, while ruffles rose above the neckline and shrouded the wearer’s face; a contrast to exposing jackets that revealed the torso. Hellavagirl is a brand that is all about telling stories and this col- lection didn’t fail to live up to that. Light played against the dark, white satins draped gracefully over the body paired with gothic bird wings and feathered accessories; and voluminous white tulle gowns, speckled with black, that appeared wispy and ghost-like as the layers moved against themselves. Black and blue velvet gowns were reminiscent of Victorian fash- ion; vintage and gothic, with mutton sleeves and statement motifs along the décolletage. Bird imagery reappeared through the col- lection, from shoulder pieces to fascinators – a true homage to the interpretations of gothic fairytales, it felt like a Brother Grimm story had come to life. Haunting make-up of black eyeshadow and white face paint en- hanced the theme further. Slicked back hair added edginess and offered minimal distraction from the exquisiteness of the golden prints, beaded motifs, laser-cut leather, and emerald green details. From sequins to feathers, to lace cuffs, every element had been meticulously crafted and paired with outfits to encapsulate the character. https://hellavagirl.myshopify.com I-AM-CHEN HELLAVAGIRL HELLAVAGIRL I nspired by the work of artist Agnes Martin, I-AM-CHEN unveiled their high-class, refined knitwear skills to the masses in a collection of colour-blocking knits by utilising the perfection of machinery to create streamlined, neat and chic outfits that anyone could wear. In a fruity colour palette of bright oranges, turquoise, peach, pinks, and corals, it was a welcome break amidst the more autumnal collections of fashion week. As the previous recipient of the Fashion Scout Merit Award, and a finalist for this season’s Woolmark Prize, I-AM-CHEN’s AW19 was highly anticipated and did not disappoint. It was arguably my favourite collection of the season which was down to the mastery of the layering and colour matching knits that just worked aesthetically, with simplistic silhouettes enhanced by strategic colour design, contrast piping and textural knits. Pleated knit trousers were a trendy staple, that flounced and swung down the runway and fantastic knitted jackets were classic and innovative, layered pur- posefully over cardigans and roll necks. There was an essence of Americana prep fashion; the pleats, oversized cardigans, and v-neck vests enhanced this element culminated in the styling of cardigans tied around the shoulders and waist, utilising the presentation and versatility of the collection. Perfect styling was also showcased through sleek hairstyles, reminiscent of Hollywood glamour and sweet knitted headbands, feminine, refined and full of life and fun. With tonal gradients, asymmetric hems and checkerboard knits in bright blues with yellow ribs, there were all kinds of styles explored; truly something for everyone and a designer worth looking out for in the coming seasons. www.i-am-chen.com