Topshop has announced the inspiration behind their autumn/winter 2011 Unique collection. For AW11, Topshop Unique journeys back to early 1930s America. Drawing on the culture of luxury and status of the Industrial Age, prints are bold and boastful and the silhouette is overall sleek and refined.
Prints are key in the collection and the recurring motif of the dog and car reflect the importance of social status during the decade. Automobiles with headlights streaming are appliqued onto down-sized luggage bags, and printed on satin shoes. Whippets, Grey Hounds and Dalmatians are printed across clutch bags, appear as clasps on belts and feature on flocked denim.
The industrial landscapes of the modern metropolis and its structures impose themselves on the designs. Art Deco constructions inspire the Bridge Dress in which the Brooklyn Bridge stretches across a simple black devore shift dress, whilst skyscrapers stand proud on silk blouses.
Geometric embroidery around the neckline of a dress echoes ironwork, dark silver leather is reminiscent of brushed steel and a mostly monochromatic colour palette adds weight to this architectural feel. The new American city is celebrated by prints of vintage postcards on a matching shirt and pant suit and the Hollywood dress in black devore lined with a green metallic lurex gives off a feel of American glamour.
Tailoring is refined and traditional and faux fur is added to the hemlines of skirts, sleeves and collars and is often oversized to create a bigger impact a la Cruella Deville. The arms of a cream brushed mohair trench are made from a Dalmatian-printed faux ponyskin whilst a black sheepskin coat features a thick chocolate-brown fur collar.
A crushed velvet backless dress in tobacco with marabou arms evokes the glitz and glamour of Speakeasy clubs whilst patent or printed Mary-Janes, T-bar peep toes and ankle boots take their inspiration from Chorus Line girls. The metal plate of a tap shoe is transformed into the shape of a dog and hidden on the arch of the sole and velvet ribbons tie replace laces. Corsets feature in black velvet or glittery tinsel-like fabric and chunky Art deco style silver and faux-tortoiseshell angular jewellery with splashes of colour and delicate diamante studs finishes the look.
Topshop was established in 1964 and is part of Arcadia Group Ltd. Sir Philip Green became owner of Arcadia Group Ltd in 2002.
Topshop is continually recognised as being an authority on women's fashion with a wide range of petite clothing, dresses and jeans through to maternity wear and make up.
Topshop was the first fashion retailer to show on schedule at London Fashion Week in September 2005 when it presented its own acclaimed in-house design collection Unique (created in 2001).
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