Couture with a kick; a fearless razzle dazzle; expression with an edge. Area’s couture is the merciless glamour we have grown to expect from couture, yet in a distinctly and unapologetically loud way. Bold badass boss energy: Area’s couture collection is undeniably relevant.
Featuring Precious Lee and Yasmin Wijnaldum, the brand’s direction is clearly to make waves within the sea of traditional couture. Unlike other Couture collections we have seen this year, Area’s statement speaks not just of its artwork and designs, but to the Woman. Beckett Fogg and Piotrek Panszczyk have composed a melody to the ears of the independent female: fashion is not, they seem to say, about what you wear or how you wear it, it is about why you wear it. Liberatingly daring silhouettes with amazingly excessive jewels and chunky, diamante clogs, more is definitely more.
The collection opens with a black tailored power suit, accented with silver coin-esque metal work and tied together by a statement diamanté bow. Its twin, the second look, is equally powerful but with a more relaxed, almost streetwear, twist. The hugging, wrap-around stoned jewellery not only proposes a fresh take on jewellery (hello sparkly necklace ankle warmers!) but is also seen throughout the collection, in the form of the spiralling, skeletal dresses, tops and headwear. The barely-there drama of these looks showcases Area’s embracing of the Woman, the power within our veins when we love and accept the skin we are in!
This develops into a majestic, extravagantly shrouding look which sees chain-like rows of diamante draped and dripped from the model in a continuous, fluid, movement. Sweeping across the realm of Couture, Area’s collection digresses to boned, abstract pieces: a netted ensemble, a tasselled white dress and three bold cake dresses. The playing with shape and structure here seems to again emphasis the power of accepting your own skin: all shapes are beautiful and powerful, no matter how ‘abstract’ they may seem.
From start to finish, AREA’S Couture collection pushes the boundaries of shape and expression.
Words by Hannah Emery
