Starnes has nailed it yet again. Much has been written about Ingrid Starnes’ references to simpler times and independent fashion thought – although she confesses to not really doing ‘fashion’, instead designing clothing she likes and hopes other do too. For this collection Starnes apparently imagined a hunting party at an English country house, all lemonade and Devonshire teas, with a slug of sherry being sneaked into the teapot.
In reality, ‘Hunt’s End’ is a collection that can only be described as ‘pretty’, filled as it is with silk georgette blouses, soft bows and peter pan collars, teamed with tweed pants and skirts. Beautiful ‘40s cuts were seen in dresses with floaty butterfly sleeves, sweetheart necklines and bows, but these were overshadowed by a more ‘50s edge seen in skinny ankle grazing pants with zips at the hem and boxy cropped jackets, swing coats and pleated knee length skirts.
Soft, argyle sweaters and cardigans in cream and pale blue were worn as accompaniments to slim tailored skirts and trou.
A soft print was played out not only in silk chiffon dresses and blouses, but on a more body conscious cotton knit dress. The same print was seen in tones of baby blue, mustard, cream and grey.
Flashes of mustard, orange and purple played against a softer palette of blues and creams.
The details are what set this collection apart for me; leather trim on the tweed pants and jackets, sharp details at the pocket that were then repeated at the shoulder line of dresses, the chain fastening the little jacket, the checked trim at the collar and cuffs of a gorgeous chiffon dress, drawcords at the waist, ‘frogging’ at the neckline of another.
The show closed with a truly beautiful dress of sheer dusky rose silk worn over vintage inspired underwear. Double ruffled cap sleeves, a sweetheart neckline and a skirt that floated from the waist to the floor seemingly doubling in volume along the way provided a fittingly sweet finish to a truly feminine show.
CLICK HERE to view Ingrid Starnes NZFW12 – Runway
– Jackie O’Fee
www.signaturestyle.co.nz
Images: Michael Ng
