Preen Catwalk Fashion Show New York FW2011

Designers Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi’s of the British label Preen looked to the San Francisco crafts movement this season, but approached it in an ultra-modern way. They loved the idea of replicating hand-embroidery, tapestry and appliqué and incorporating it into their designs.

It was the first time Preen had knitwear and art and crafty embellishment in a collection, but it didn’t effect their future-vision. They experimented with proportions – hemlines were elongated, while single items looked like they were several garments. Shirt-sleeves and collars – appearing to be part of a shirt beneath – actually belonged to overcoats,  jumpsuits appeared as matching trouser-and-shirt looks and tapered skirts with  thigh-high splits were fitted with attached shirts. The effect was very modern. The vibrant pops of color, abstract geometric prints and embellished accents that jingled as the models walked by gave the classic silhouettes a touch of chic.