Trend news / 07.02.2011
Three different and equally inspiring show themes were developed for this year’s ECCO Walk In Style Award fashion show, covering the most important shoe trends for Autumn/Winter 2011.
The show themes for ECCO Walk In Style Award 2011 were Red Passion, Forest Future and Nordic Grunge. On the catwalk, they were artfully conceptualized by some of the most talented and visionary stylists in Denmark, each with their own personal take on the assigned theme. The models were ‘dressed’ in large geometric shapes of different kinds, pieces of art if you will, decorated to convey and explore each theme. Niki Tæstensen, Chief Designer Ladies’, reflects upon the cooperation:
It is very exciting to work together with stylists and interior designers. There are so many bits and pieces that have to match. Matching the individual artist’s work together with our design is very interesting since they see the themes with fresh eyes. Making everything come together and creating a great result is the most exciting, rewarding and challenging part of the process.
Each theme was creatively and cleverly interpreted by chief designer Ladies’, Niki Tæstensen, and CEO Dieter Kasprzak, designing unique showpieces for the catwalk.
Red Passion
This theme echoes Parisian style at its very best: decadent and chic, yet relaxed with a certain je ne sais pas attitude. There is a bit of retro nostalgia in the air, a vision of faded black-and-white photographs, ladylike pearls and lingering perfume scent. The shoes are sleek and elegant party-friendly styles, mainly made of black or red shiny patent leather, with feminine details like strappy wristbands, feathers and tulle lacing.
This show theme was styled by Femme Regionales, a progressive design agency founded in 2005 by two young Danish women, both with an MA in Fashion design (
femmeregionales.dk). Mie Albæk Nielsen and Caroline Hansen interpreted this trend in their own innovative way. The colour palette is red, invoking the city of love, and ranging from the deepest burgundy, lipstick red and light coral to the palest pink. Each of the entrances consisted of one main colour, creating the sense of a graded colour chart sashaying down the catwalk. Soft layers of paper adorned the identical triangular shapes chosen for this theme.
Forest Future
The pressures of hectic city life have made many of us long for more natural and secluded surroundings. Climate changes have also made us more aware of our unsustainable way of living. This season, the vast but endangered forests lend inspiration to a theme where colours and materials look as if they derive from Mother Nature herself. Surfaces are either smooth and mottled for a lifelike look, or rough, like the fur collar on a heeled ankle boot. Moss green, autumn leaf yellow and bark brown dominate the colour palette.
Normally working with interiors, stylist Mikkel Kure (
mikkelkure.dk) took on the challenge of styling this fashion show theme inspired by the great outdoors. The former History of Art and Design student latched on to the juxtaposition between artificial and natural, fast and slow, short-term and long-term, creating elements that visually depict the importance of sustainable thinking. On the mix of geometric shapes chosen for this theme, nature was up against its ‘opponents’ in a way you have probably never seen before.
Nordic Grunge
There is a sense of freedom saturating this trend, when we recall the ‘no rules’ dress code of the early 90s. This season, we added a Nordic touch to the layering, mixing Norwegian print knits and shoes with hiking and ski boot features. Colours are mixed and matched but mainly muted: coffee brown, cognac, copper, sand and matte black are all viable. All shoe styles belonging to this trend look worn in a fashionable way, thanks to ‘Old West’ and ‘Starbuck’ leather.
Skilled fashion stylist Simon Rasmussen, known for his visionary ideas and creative concepts, added a certain edge to this show theme (
simonrasmussen.com). Braided strands of knit, denim and leather framed the ‘faces’ on the circular shapes chosen for this theme, creating a raw expression. The result looked relaxed and coincidental, echoing the style mood of the decade in question. Colourwise it is very down to earth, with different neutrals mixed with bright accents.
For more information about ECCO Walk In Style Award, please
click here