Show Report
Holland seemed to have run riot in the interiors section of a haberdashers - pleated skirts bore resemblance to lampshades and he appears to have developed a penchant for curtain tassels.
To date, House of Holland has largely been regarded as a bit of a joke amongst the fashion press; at best editors are indifferent to it, at worst they are infuriated by its coveted place on an already packed schedule. Having said that Holland has, in the past, delivered some pieces worthy of press and public attention. There was that denim from S/S 2010 for instance, and that tartan he did was alright. He can keep those slogan tees though, ta very much. Today however, Holland seemed to have run riot in the interiors section of a haberdashers - pleated skirts bore resemblance to lampshades and he appears to have developed a penchant for curtain tassels. They were everywhere; layered over dresses, made into skirts and even, wait for it, as anklets. Then there were the furry pom-pom earrings that were, perhaps, intended as a touch of frivolous fun, but seeing one drop from a model's ear halfway down the catwalk only highlighted their cringe factor. Continuing a growing theme for S/S 2011, there was a distinct '70s vibe to the collection what with free flowing pleated dresses with asymmetric hemlines, flared trousers and barely there metallic hotpants. Whilst last season Holland gave us stripes and paisley, this time around we have appliqué stars on denim smocks and playsuits and a recurring foliage print, pointing presumably to an exotic summery location. Generally speaking, fashion week tends to throw up several types of shows: there are the good shows, the bad shows and the so-bad-they're-good-shows. Occasionally there are the stand-out shows, whose legend lasts for seasons and seasons and eventually become part of fashion folklore. Needless to say, Henry Holland's offering today did not fall into the latter category, but neither did it fall into any of the above. There were moments - as with the gold chainmail dresses, or tight as you like catsuit - that could have been explored further and taken to another level. As it was, we were left with a collection that was neither here nor there. It was not hugely offensive, but it wasn't exciting either. Perhaps it falls into that other category: forgettable.
