David Longshaw fall/winter 2013

The British designer David Longshaw creates the animated short “Painting Over Harry” as an inspiration for the eponymous fall/winter 2013 collection. In this imaginary world, a woman named Iris, a lover of black and white films, decorates her home, which she shares with the parrot Harry, with memorabilia of Princess Anne’s wedding, from which she’s obsessed. The sad discovery of the princess’ divorce leads her to paint the walls of her house, as well as the parrot Harry and finally herself, in black and white, to create the illusion of living in one of her beloved old movies. The dresses of the collection are sculptural and tailoring, with a romantic and decadent aura, and recover the tapestries’ designs of Iris’ house and the subsequent painting intervention. The first pieces of the collection reflects the optimism of the protagonist, through the use of colors and shapes, but gradually the palette becomes darker. Also interesting is the use of materials, with a mix of luxurious fabrics such as silk and lace with other more technical and specifically performing, neoprene on all.