ILJA by Ilja Visser Couture Catwalk Fashion Show Paris SS2016

Ever since last season Ilja Visser is ‘one of the big guys’. Meaning on Wednesday the 27th of January the Dutch designer was officially part of the Paris Haute Couture Week for the second time. She chose Palais Vivienne as the show location for the presentation of her SS16 couture collection ‘ASSIMILA’. Quite the classical, baroque backdrop to Ilja’s modern, clean, yet sculptural creations, which, as she explained, were an ode to contemporary femininity. A theme Ilja further elaborated on with crafted, soft shapes, textures and colors (whites, nudes as well as touches of orange and green) that carried a modern attitude. Designs looked impeccable, unique, refreshing and desirable. With an ability to please both the couture shopping rich ladies as well as some popstar stylists (Beyoncé dresser attended the show). Asymmetric strapless dresses, structured jackets, boxy tops and slip dresses and cropped tops; this was couture with a definite cool factor ready to be picked up by Hollywood’s/The fashion world’s latest it-girls. Now the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture might be a dinosaur institute that sure didn’t stop Ilja from giving her scheduled show an extra fashion forward touch. She arranged special light effects to create vivid colors on some of the models. Fresh faced models with a personality, who exceeded in their diversity, representing Ilja’s ‘urban cool’ and ‘new pretty’ beauty norm. Modern talented women, professionals, mothers, spouses and friends Ilja wants to be unapologetic while chasing their dreams. Like she is doing herself, and quite successfully so.

Ready to Fish by Ilja Visser Catwalk Fashion Show New York FW2015

Un-related to any specific theme or inspiration, Ready to Fish by Ilja Visser started with a blank canvas to present a collection that reads like a sketchbook, and a compendium of the Ready to Fish style. It was important for them to capture the sketch-like quality of the unfinished – leaving room for both our own as the customers imagination and interpretation.
As a metaphor for this collation of ideas, used classic marble prints, adorning sketchbooks and archive folders that will prove instantly recognizable to everyone. The collection also emphasizes the idea that many archetypes that inspired the designer belong to the public domaine, and that the use of codes, references verses our own interpretations and developments are at constant play throughout the design process.

Ilja Visser Couture Catwalk Show SS2015 Paris

Telling the story of nature’s rotating dynamic TOURNAVOLTA is the name of Ilja Visser’s new couture collection. Inspired by the perfect balance between nature en life it contained the loveliest of green shades, from olive and moss to mint. Made from complex pattern designs had the most graphic materials and voluminous shapes. A mix between heavy and airy fabrics, a match of both casual and elegance styles. Still the show’s vibe was relaxed, the silhouette easy going (hands in the pockets). Yes, these were couture designs, yet those pieces were wearable enough for many occasions, making them accessible to a broader audience. A beautifully made collection a label like Ilja might just need to break through internationally. And for those who wonder, there were still some Gaga worthy pieces (we suggest a mint green dress with orange ribbon) in it.

Ready to Fish Fashion Week Amsterdam FW2014

After having presented her work on all kinds of impressive locations (like Het Rijksmuseum, her own store at the Prinsengracht) Ilja Visser returned to the Amsterdam Fashion Week today. She kicked off the evening schedule with her Ready to Fish by Ilja show. For fall Ilja served us a great variety of casual wear with just the right amount of edge. Well known model Yfke Sturm opened the show in an all black casual meets business attire, her hair combed backwards, hands in her pockets. She set the mood for what was about to follow. Ultra comfortable, loose fitting pieces that can take you from the office to a late dinner within seconds. Transparent looks (like a raincoat) and details stood out, as well as a few bright green pieces and several graphic printed details. Skirts were long, tops were loose. A chic, completely camel colored look certainly made some jaws drop in the audience, as did a structured, all grey piece that formed the ultimate mix of both a dress and a coat. Finished at the office? And done with dinner? You can even hit a party in these looks. As a matter of fact, the brand is organizing an impressive afterparty tonight. Are you ready to par..err ..fish?

Catwalk Fashion Show Ilja Couture / Ready to Fish AW2012

Today Dutch designer Ilja Visser followed in the footsteps of Tom Ford and Victoria Beckham and brought intimacy back to the runway. Not only was her brand new Ready to Fish collection narrated look by look, different courses of a Ilja Visser menu were served in between every few looks too.

It was a lovely setting and there was a nice atmosphere. You could not tell Ilja’s whole team (hairdressers, make-up artist, marketing and shop employees to name a few) had been working all day to make sure four different shows were held. Four different shows, four different audiences and four different types of amusement (lunch, drinks, a little boat trip and diner).

The Ready to Fish collection was all inspired by the eighties movie Paris, Texas and brought a mix of masculine details and feminine elegance. There was a lot of asymmetry, which we’ve seen before at Ready to Fish. Also, the bright yellow and pink shades and the raw denim stood out. The clothes felt thick for summer, but thanks to the choice of fabrics (linen, loose knits) were in fact airy.

Straight after the ready to wear collection presentation we were presented with a few very strong Ilja couture looks from the collection named Pluche. The inspiration – politicians and formalities – was not very visible, but the creations (mainly black and beige) were stunning. Business influences like high shoulders and classic cuffs were combined with feminine silhouettes. Ilja used a lot of fake fur and played with the structure of her couture designs.

Both collection were beautifully made and presented in a great way. We had a fun night and can only hope more designers decide to go back to where fashion shows once started; intimate, personal and memorable.

The three pictures above are three looks from the Ilja couture collection.

 

 

 

 

Highlights 14th edition AIFW FW2011

We did it again! We survived Amsterdam International Fashion Week, with more than 27 shows, presentations and party’s. We shot front-stage, backstage, street-wear, shows and soirees and we loved every minute of it.

More than 20.000 people attended the AIFW this time – amongst them a large group of international bloggers – and we hope they enjoyed themselves as much as we did. We did see some strong collections, beautifully dressed people and a lot of fashion-enthusiasm. We won’t forget the couture-show of Jan Taminiau or the colorful parade of Bas Kosters full with energy and fantasy. And we were surprised by the collection of Marloes Blaas and the sweet romantic style of Sage & Ivy. Die-hards like Tony Cohen and Addy van den Krommenacker demonstrated us what a real professional catwalk-show looks like. And talking about show: you don’t have to tell Supertrash anything about that. This was glamor tot the max!

And let’s not forget Spijkers & Spijkers, Monique Collignon, the LAB-shows, Ready to Fish by Ilja Visser,  Huen Yeu, Velour, Elsien Gringhuis. And the Green Fashion Competition. This is how diverse and inventive Dutch fashion-design is.

Ready to Fish by Ilja Visser Catwalk Fashion Show FW2011

Like two weeks ago during the presentation of her haute couture collection Ilja Visser again chose a special way of showing her new ready to wear collection. She chose the MC theater as the location and opted for Cirque de Burlesque as a theme for the show.

When we arrived we received fancy scroppino’s, popcorn and cotton candy and some clownesque people led us to the room where the show started. There some circus attributes (balls, swing, trampoline, ladder) were put in place for the models to pose with them.

“..So come on, escape with me
To a world where magic can be..”

Ilja designed pleated pants, tough denim shorts, capes, airy black tops and chunky knitwear (hand-knitted). There was a lot of black, combined with shades of grey, red and a graphic print. The models had large afro wigs and some red and blue details in their make-up. They looked very streetwise in their funky, young and feminine clothes.

Ready to Fish Backstage AIFW FW2011

The hair and colorful make up took some time to get ready backstage at Ready to Fish, the ready to wear-collection of Ilja Visser. Especially the braiding and curling, but the result was stunning and playful. The curly hair fitted perfectly with the theme of the collection.

Ilja Visser Couture Catwalk Fashion Show FW2012

This week Dutch designer Ilja Visser presented her new collection in a very special way. She invited everyone to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, a museum which is currently under construction. There a guide gave all the guests (who head to wear protection helmets and bright colored jackets for safety) a small tour through the museum explaining how Pierre Cuypers built the Rijksmuseum in 1885.

After that tour the show started in one of the big area’s in the Rijksmuseum. A violist filled the room with beautiful music and the first models appeared. They wore structural clothes in many different natural shades, all inspired by the work of Pierre Cuypers.

The official catwalk images will be posted on our blog soon. For now check the picture gallery above.

Ready to fish fashion show fw2010

On the afternoon of 9 February designer Ilja Visser presented her Ready to fish fall/winter collection for 2010/2011. For the fashion show a small fashion audience gathered at a location in the center of Amsterdam. The great building has since a few months become Ilja Visser’s office and within a month a Ilja Visser shop will be opened there too.

At the fashion show we met with Mrs. Forester, a nice well-dressed lady, who protects the forest. Mrs. Forester wears the prettiest clothes, takes care of the trees and the flowers and is always happy. For her the presentation of new collection, which was inspired by this lady, Ilja took us deep into the woods.

While a forest-inspired video was played at the back of the room Mrs. Forester was represented in many woolen outfits like a catsuit and a long buttoned cardigan. Heavy and light fabrics combined together in several outfits formed a great aspect of the collection.

Pants were pleated and draped. A few jackets had the shiny print of hanging leaves all over them. Other pants and tops had moss prints in different natural colors. The models carried clutches with them and wore large hats, which looked splendid.

Ilja held a great show. The materials looked amazing and the location made the show feel extra special. And we…we just got carried away by the whole forest-story.

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