The Manchester-based designer's A/W collection was inspired by sixties glamour and iconic women
Plush velvet, head-to-toe metallics, sheer chiffon, feather embellishments, the finest silk and handmade lace – you name it, all the opulent textures came into play at Zeynep Kartal's Autumn/Winter catwalk for London Fashion Week 2018. This was to be expected; the Manchester-hailing designer and renowned dressmaker has a known love affair with fine fabrics - pay a visit to her King Street showroom and you're sure to find the designer swaddled in a sea of material, hand-stitching intricate appliqués to a wedding dress.
For this season’s LFW catwalk at Freemason’s Hall, Kartal – a technically accomplished dressmaker, who’s clothed everyone from Lady Gaga to Tess Daly - stayed true to her signature with a succession of dazzling evening gowns inspired by sixties glamour (there was certainly no mistaking the muse for the gold, figure-hugging metallic dresses. It was all very Diana Ross and The Supremes).
While a clear traditionalist, Turkish-born Kartal updated the classic shapes with modern styling. Think relaxed tailoring in deep luxury orange, rich navy and romantic reds; plus voluminous wide leg trousers and belted blazers that come slightly oversized. The showstoppers were, of course, the gowns; all equally dramatic, sensual and unapologetically feminine. It's easy to picture the entirely sheer, polka-dotted gown frequenting a red carpet or two.
No stranger to a Zeynep Kartal show, it's always clear to see why her catwalks continually command a heaving international guestlist. A designer’s designer, Kartal rejects most fleeting trends in favour of honouring the classic and upholding traditional painstaking dressmaking techniques. Kartal's dresses are unmistakable celebrations of femininity and always incredibly beautiful.
See all the pics below (courtesy of Zeynep Kartal):
