Anna Kolomoets AW13/14

Anna Kolomoets catwalk review by Emma Scott, images by Lin Vitali.

Note: The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RetoxMagazine.com

Anna Kolomoets at Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Ukraine designer Anna Kolomoets presented her Autumn/Winter 2013 collection at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London Fashion Week, as part of Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days showcase.

Kolomoet goes back to basics for Autumn/Winter 2013

What first struck me about Anna Kolomoets Autumn/Winter 13 collection was the use of texture and lack of colour. To some the collection may seem dreary, and a stark contrast to the usual warm burgundy and chocolate brown colours that normally decorate an Autumn/Winter catwalk show. However you need to look beyond colour to see the real beauty of the garments.

The silhouettes were kept simplistic, yet feminine, featuring soft rounded necklines, long sleeves and modest knee length dresses. Now I wouldn’t say that it is the most breath taking collection I have ever seen, on first glance the black and white palette is used in a somewhat predictable way, with either one dominating the garment and the other used to highlight areas such as collars or cuffs. Nevertheless there is something about this predictable simplicity that I find refreshing.

The garments aren’t overwhelming, busy or in your face, they would allow you to freely move and go about your daily business without any problems. There is a slight 1960’s feel from a space age style shift dress constructed in a lustrous fabric and from a layered, check shift dress that is complimented with a pair of white tights. I feel the main theme pushing through from this collection is modesty. None of the garments are low cut or revealing, and the matt, plain colour scheme does not attract the eye. Put it this way you could walk through a crowd of people without anyone batting an eyelid or turning their heads.

Anna Kolomoets AW13/14 Catwalk Images

Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days: Anna Kolomoets AW13 catwalk show; outfit 1: full length front and back view.

But let’s get back to my original point that you need to look beyond colour to see the beauty. Now I know this sounds a bit cryptic, but stay with me. On closer inspection of these garments I noticed the fine and intricate detailing used, for example tiny laser cut flowers on a draped 3/4 sleeve jacket, and hundreds of chiffon flowers each embellished with a small bead, individually stitched to a delicate chiffon dress. It is these small and what some would call insignificant details that I feel make this collection something different. We are used to seeing large, over the top displays of colour and creativity parade down the catwalk that are pleasing on the eye. However I feel the garments in Anna Kolomoets collection are more to be enjoyed by the individual wearing them rather than the mass public. She brings us back to basics, and instead has created a collection where the model wears the clothes and not the other way around.

Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days: Anna Kolomoets AW13 catwalk show; outfit 2: full length front and close-up view.

Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days: Anna Kolomoets AW13 catwalk show; outfit 3: full length front and close-up view.

The Ukrainian designer has done well, and has managed to also throw in a variety of fabrics from chiffon to leather to fur, that each drape and mould differently to the body. The theme of modesty is continued through to the models themselves, with their hair in ponytails and make up very fresh and neutral.

Although there is nothing necessarily breath-taking about this collection, it is very wearable, easily translatable to the high street and I feel it really accentuates the female form. To conclude I feel there is a tiny bit too much white for my liking, anyone sporting one of Anna Kolomoets garments on a snowy day would be practically invisible! However I admire her attention to detail and I feel it’s a collection that will be greatly influencing our high street stores.

Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days: Anna Kolomoets AW13 catwalk show; outfit 4: full length front and close-up view.

Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days: Anna Kolomoets AW13 catwalk show; collection outfit 4 (full length back view) and outfit 5 (full length front view).

Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days: Anna Kolomoets AW13 catwalk show; collection outfit 5: close-up front and full length back view.

Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days: Anna Kolomoets AW13 catwalk show; collection outfit 6: full length front and close-up back view.