Wallis A/W 2011 Collection-1970s daywear – decadent evening wear.

The Wallis collections unveiled at the Arcadia Autumn/Winter press day last week were a fashion range of two halves. There were beautiful bright pieces of daywear inspired by the 1970s style icon Ali McGraw in shades of teal,magenta and orange. But evening wear was a gothic tale of black lace, leather and chiffon in clear tribute to Alexander McQueen. Both collections were instantly covetable.

The 1970s colour pallete is plundered  for the ‘Babbington House’ collection. This is a fabulous homage to Ali McGraw  in Love Story with lots of layering and wools and chiffon worn together with chunky heeled shoes and accents of fur. Colour clashing is still a  big story, as is the use of camel as a base colour. Pussy cat bow blouses and tea dresses make this ultra feminine, but there are also more masculine elements in the flared cords, wide leg trousers and culottes. The fabulous berry fur jacket pictured above is a hero piece that could be worn over an evening gown, or teamed with jeans for a more casual look.

For evenings Wallis are treating us to ‘Gorgeous Gothic’ a homage to the genius of Alexander McQueen. Sheer black fabrics with sequins, feathers and heavy beading are prevalent in this collection, with Daphne Guinness -esque fur coats providing the winter warmth.  This is a luxurious decadent collection that screams high-octane dangerous glamour. I loved the leather top with the fur sleeves, and also the addition of the naughty Victorian style knee-high boots.

I loved the whole Wallis collection with its nod towards grown-up glamour and vintage styling.  The use of black means that this is full of timeless, investment pieces that will enhance your wardrobe.

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