Caitlin Charles-Jones at Graduate Fashion Week

Caitlin Charles-Jones Collection Review by Cassie Laver, Images by Lin Vitali.

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

Collection by Caitlin Charles-Jones

Caitlin Charles-Jones looks like she might just be ready to rock. Acid colours, blocky shapes, geometric designs and ridgy arms give her designs a signature look you can just imagine being co-opted into a H&M designer tie-in. It’s probably not what Kingston University graduate Charles-Jones intended but it’s a reflection of her designs’ winning combination of distinctiveness and accessibility.

Rule Britannia Compliments Charles-Jones’s Collections

The backdrop of the GFW shows, as befits 2012’s Rule Britannia hysteria, is an enormous monochrome Union Jack through which stern looking models purposefully stride. This suits Charles-Jones’s collections to the ground as her angular patterns mirror the lines of the flag, while her use of black to accent those bright colours echoes the flag and its fifty shades of patriotic grey.

Images: Collection by Caitlin Charles-Jones of Kingston University presented at GFW2012.

Wearability vs. Art

Wearability is no doubt an unsexy word in fashion circles – it’s all about the art, surely? But come on, if people aren’t going to wear the designs out and about then you’re an artist working with textiles, not a fashion designer. Discuss...

The point is that Charles-Jones collection of smart separates and full length dresses, while undeniably quirky look eminently wearable - in a trendy office, say, or the opening of a hot new art exhibition. The models look and move confidently in the pieces – although the second model looks like she may have had a bit too much backstage champagne. The standout piece is a full length dress with orange detail and cut out back – and that’s not just because that model looks like she’d punch you in the face if you said otherwise.

Caitlin Charles-Jones is an exciting new talent with an instantly iconic look. It will be intriguing to see where Charles-Jones goes from here.