Kelly Shaw

Now, I know most designers say that, but let’s be frank here; they’re usually personal stories of triumphs and tribulations. Now I’m not saying that they aren’t important, because they are, just that they don’t necessarily correlate to the struggles faced by the general population. She, just like Banksy, takes a satirical look at the whole of society through art.

 

 

 

You might think this dress is like other sloganned clothing, just decorated with mindless words. But ask yourself this; is it really the same as wandering around with ‘GEEK’ emblazoned across your chest? ‘If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything’ is a famous quote uttered by many, possibly most noticeably by Malcolm X, and it is something people should be proud to wear. It speaks of the struggles of society; of the people who believe in something; of the people trying to change the world in any way possible. Kelly Shaw is trying to change the world; she’s passionate enough about clothing to understand the influence it has on everyday life.

The monochromatic colouring of this dress conveys its message beautifully; the white of the writing represents the shining hope that breaks through the darkness and dreariness of society, which is represented by the black fabric. When the back of the dress is shown, it’s impossible to doubt that this is a piece of art. The material will cascade beautifully down anyone’s back, and it’s the perfect representation of the sometimes tumultuous world that humans leave behind unintentionally. The world right now is full of beautiful things, and yet it is so often marred by chaos. As a collective unit, we need to discover the things that are actually important, and Kelly Shaw’s collection is definitely provocative enough to help us do so.

    

On a lighter note, we mustn’t forget the wide appeal her clothing has. Black is a colour universally acknowledged to flatter everyone and her designs enhance the beauty of the colour. However, she also carefully injects navy blue into her collection and these dresses are beautiful. For example, the one above is floaty and ethereal. It’s whimsical without being wacky and delicate without being weak. The neckline is simple, exposing the collarbone, and draws attention to the lower half of the dress which will elongate the appearance of a woman’s legs.

Also, her styling is, well, stylish. The angled witch’s hat, along with the slightly ruffled hair, gives a playful twist to her clothing, and the makeup is minimal, with a splash of purple lipstick that compliments the outfits.

All in all, it’s a pretty remarkable collection!

Be sure to check out her blog and website because she’s a pretty inspirational person! ^_^ (It doesn’t hurt that her clothes are beautiful too!)

 http://kellyshaw.co.uk/

http://kellyshawlondon.blogspot.co.uk/

Sophie Lau