LFW Sept 08 – Basso and Brooke
18-09-2008
A Loreal goody bag was much appreciated, and now all I needed was some tantilising clothes to tear me away from my new lipgloss.

This print perfect pair have been revolutionising fashion for years. In their first major season they blew Topshop sponsors away and have been going from strength to strength ever since.
This season inspired by all things Japanese the collection was a sheer rainbow of colour. Graphic style prints, covered beautifully cut, simple shifts, with slashed or deep v-necks and little cap style sleeves.
While suiting remained incredibly bright (but chic) with nipped in cropped jackets and super skinny cut trousers.
Each dress told a story of colour with mixtures of purple, yellow, white, red and deep blue hues. In fact I can safely say, colour wise Basso and Brooke have it covered.

With hair piled high into a neat (but truly sculptural box), the models tottered down the longest catwalk I've ever seen. If that was not a feat enough, the models had sky scraping platform heels, that were sculpturally brilliant, with twisted ornamental heels that would look perfectly at home in an art exhibition.
Everything about this catwalk show was loud. From the thumping music to the clashing coloured prints, a Basso and Brooke woman wants to be noticed.

As the show progressed the trousers became shorter (yes its those dreaded capris, and this time they are printed!) and the dresses became longer, until we had sweeping printed maxis in sheer chiffons and sensuous silk, until the final ‘red carpet' number approached. A simple shift bodice, flowed into a stunningly elegant pinned piece, that created a cascade of drapes, with a creeping flouro floral print on a black base.

The ‘piece de resistance' however were the ‘obi' style belts, that create tiny waist lines for all the models, allowing the fuller skirted items to become 40's hourglass. These belts used the prints of the collection in an origami like fashion to create fabulous folds of a sculpture like nature. Making each and every garment appear like a present! Which indeed it was, my, my what a fashion treat.

Words Rivkie Baum
Pictures by Paul Persky







