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Show Report

Show Report: Ashley Williams S/S 16 Womenswear

by Lucy Norris on 22 September 2015

Lucy Norris reports on the Ashley Williams S/S 16 womenswear show.

Lucy Norris reports on the Ashley Williams S/S 16 womenswear show.

It was 9am and we were in the midst of an 8-hour rain pour - this wasn’t the best slot for Ashley Williams. One needs to be still out from the night before to want to vibe to Little Mix’s black magic. The black graphite sand laid down on the runway – in Tumblr trash gothic style - looked like a 14-year-old was about to throw a fashion show. To girls in their early twenties, watching re-runs of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, this probably makes total sense.

Ashley Williams threw so many gothic references at us within the press release, I was hoping it was a tongue-in-cheek stab - at the way young creatives grab visual ideas online. However, some of the people as muses mentioned – hello, Laura Palmer – were nowhere near evoked in this collection. I became concerned that this potion lacked some self-awareness. Lynch's Laura - and the world of Twin Peaks - would have bought a whole other taste level. The Camden market reference was the most accurate meme that rang true here. This was Ashley William's proposal for the anti-princess. 

The way the oversized fishnets morphed into a total print look across satin skirts and shirts, was an effective styling and design idea. It also added cohesion and polish to the collection. The prints were the strongest element of the collection overall. Scribbly flies and grids really worked on drop waisted dresses and an oversized shirt. A great neon pink and black bomber also stood out as something I could imagine doing well in store. However, rows of diamante jackets and scarf dresses had me feeling as if I was in a bit of a noughties nightmare – but I’m guessing that was kind of the point.

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