J Maskrey

There was some serious wattage on the catwalk as Maskrey unveiled her Autumn Winter 2010 ‘pleasure’ collection, based around the 1930’s film ‘The mask of Fu Man Chu’ telling the story of a heroes quest for a sword and the mask of Genghis Khan. A sense of adventure fills the air, spurred on by the emotive music, straight from a beautiful cinematic score.

J maskrey started her career as a make-up artist, famed for her use of stick on crystal motifs, so called ‘skin jewellery’ Her first collection in 2000 started off as being a platform for her  body crystal range and was an instant success. Maskrey is k for her opulence and use of luxury materials like cashmere, silk and unsurprisingly, oodles of crystals and gold embellishments that shimmered like swaying chandeliers.

The clothes were quite simple in their design, loosely following modern shapes including strong structured shoulders, chiffon panels, capes, feathers and heavy knotted knits. There was a black on black  colour palate throughout enabling textures and embellishments to become more prominent. Feathers, gold chains and beads all left us with a sense of fun, while the intricacy and imagination of some of the designs made the mind boggle. Black tights and long gloves framed spattered ink skin jewellery that twinkled with tiny crystals and dripped into dangling black pendants from the upper body curves.

Allot of the attention was on Maskrey’s skilled application of crystal tattoos showing popular symbology with the likes of skulls, hearts and anchors appearing on body and clothes alike. Crystal covered leopard spots had everybody in a spin, appearing throughout and most noticeably on the show stopping finale piece which was a barely there dress, constructed like a cage, with animal print, crystal encrusted rigid strips, latticed around the body exposing gaping hints of flesh, complete with peekaboo black crystal covered nipples and the most magnificent headdress this sent the press into a frenzied  flutter of Camera shutters, building up into an almighty deafening crescendo leading into the final song by Carly Simon, blaring out ‘Nobody does it better’ Well Maskrey, you might just be right!

Lynsay McConachie