Kinder Aggugini Spring Summer 2010

One of the least known ‘famous’ designers in the world, Kinder has ghost designed for Versace, Vivienne Westwood and Calvin Klein among others. He put himself in the limelight last season, showing his own label collection at London Fashion Week in February. I was thrilled to get an invitation to his Spring Summer 2010 show at London Fashion Week, the invite (a slightly bloody Snow White) piqued my interest. The collection was inspired by Alice in Wonderland and Grimm Bothers fairytales, which I grew up with. He explains, “The show is based around that spirit – where everything appears candy-coated and pretty on the outside. Yet, within, lies a constant darkness..I have taken the little pretty children’s dresses, opened them up at the seams and inserted juxtaposing fabrics. These are usually darker and more textured”.

I loved the theatrical show. Kinder’s collection was a cornucopia of print and colour: pinks, blues, purples, metallics, stripes, snakeskin print, tribal patterns, polka dots. Everything was over the top, from the oversized Stephen Jones hats to snakeskin print fabrics and textures ranged from tweed to sheer, floaty chiffon. It sounds like an insane jumble of ideas, but there was an underlying cohesion which bought it all together and somehow it blended into a beautiful and vibrant show, one of my favourites.