This Season on the Runways

Ann Demeulemeester

The transparent lace of Ann Demeulemeester’s designs cannot hide all tragedy. Mystery and intrigue draw us into her melancholy, and this calamitous spirit is what the brand is known for. Sébastien Meaner, Creative Director, spoke of the AW17 looks, “This is a very romantic girl who mixes all her lace and old garments.” Demuelemeester’s

Illustrations by Shibo Chen Words by Elizabeth Hazard

Sophia Webster

Sophia Webster’s designs are feminine, bold, and flirtatious. Nature surrounds this bashful woman of extravagance like a cocoon. Webster's shoe and accessory collections are whimsical, playful and girly, enveloped into one. Her latest collection for AW17 takes flight with an emphasis on her signature butterfly and, most especially, its wings.

Ryan Lo

Chains and animal print play havoc in Ryan Lo’s designs. She appears fierce and ready to play with fire. With ice-cold eyes of white, she forcefully stares down opposition. Her hair acts as both her weapon and her protection; this woman is one to be feared. Lo's collection mixes camouflage-printed hats with floral, flirty dresses, and even introduced a Hello Kitty collaboration - quite a sharp contrast.

Jun Takahashi

Jun Takahashi’s avant-garde designs with Undercover take center stage in this illustration, combining style with nature. Black-and-white stripes mixed with the boldly hued red of her bow contrast with the horned headpiece sitting atop her head. She appears as a modern day fairy, navigating a magical, mystical woods. The Tokyo-based label's recent collection presents a utopian microcosm, with different outfits representing various tribes within that new world order. For a brand to have celebrated its 25th anniversary two years ago, it's clear it hasn't out-aged itself or reached a lull in creativity.

Delpozo

Bold colors and art-inspired vibes are apparent in Delpozo and Creative Director Josep Font’s Fall/ Winter collection for 2017. The architect-turned-designer exhibits his expert use of shape and size. Here, the feather-like, stainedglass-colored embellishments on the hooded hat leave no question that its wearer is not afraid to make a fashion statement. Here, old meets new and portrays a vintage-loving woman who can still modernize her look with a coveted accessory. Delpozo's recent collection is a bright, masculine-andmodern approach to the classics.

Junya Watanabe

Designer Junya Watanabe goes punk in this latest collection. Tartan and studded chokers present a new-age goth for the next generation. Here, the eyes of the youth are shielded from reality, offering a time of exploration and self expression - all that the punk era represented for the youth of the past. Watanabe has always been known for his innovative style and futuristic designs. This latest collection shows that in some ways, the future is destined to repeat the past.