20 February 2024 |
CSM-alum Talia Byre has a knack for elegantly-constructed garments that are sweet like cotton candy. Using her AW24 offering to explore prints galore, the 16-look collection swung from stripes to dots to animal print in the most wonderfully chic way. Inspired by the Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani and his increasingly long-necked portraits of the writer Beatrice Hastings, silhouettes were playful but not over the top, featuring an assortment of waists that were dropped or cinched.
Girl groups that rose to prominence in the 1960s like The Crystals, The Ronettes and The Shangri-Las informed the whimsical, femininity-first feel of the offering, with Byre recognising the influence of the male gaze on their squeaky-clean presentation. Deliciously snug-looking knitwear pieces influenced by the 1950s ‘Sweater Girl’ aesthetic were notable, with a fully mint, dalmatian-spotted skirt, jumper and scarf combo being enough to make the mouth water. Byre’s signature panelling was integrated throughout, whilst boldly coloured tights added to the vintage feel. Accessorising looks with miniature Bolter bags covered with cow and zebra prints or large silver paillettes, it was a triumphant, campy collection worth pining for.
Photography courtesy of Talia Byre
