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On Thursday December 1st, Trinity Fashion Society held their Annual Charity Fashion Show in the minimalistic, industrialist confines of the Complex, just off Capel Street. This year’s show paid homage to the mutable nature of fashion. Elements of past trends are continually being adapted and transformed into something which feels fresh and modern once more. The theme, Burnt Out, also draws attention to the enormous pressure felt by young people with demanding schedules. This pressure is replicated in the fashion industry, as show organiser, Carla King-Molina, suggested in her opening remarks. She cited the sudden departure of fashion greats Raf Simons and Alber Elbaz to demonstrate that stress can affect anybody. Proceeds of the show went to Pieta House, who provide therapeutic services for those experiencing suicidal thoughts, engaging in self-harm or who have attempted suicide.
The show was divided into a number of distinct categories, all featuring an artistic mix of high street, vintage and designer pieces. The show began with a series of slouchy neutrals. The first look, a nude lace bodysuit worn over loose sweatpants, was topped with a jaunty black baseball cap and a white fur jacket from Om Diva, worn as a shrug. The athluxe theme continued with a brown polo and velvet Topman bomber paired with pristine white Y-3 tracksuit bottoms and a striking pair of orange shades.
The show took a more conceptual turn with a shiny black rain jacket with a boxy hood, resulting in a mere glimpse of the model’s face. Black skinnys and lace-up boots completed the look. A series of outerwear looks were presented throughout the show, the stand-out being a structured yellow Frances Campelli mackintosh with matching yellow beanie.
Heavy sweaters and long skirts provided a stylish solution to the winter chill. My personal favourite was a cream Tola Vintage jumper paired with a floor-length cream silk gown from Covet. A chunky turtleneck sweater and a flowy, glittery grey midi skirt topped with a Vertigo at Two Pups fur jacket was an elegant look to which the model’s short burgundy hair and peep-toe sandals added an extra shot of glamour.
Looks often featured delicate, feminine pieces juxtaposed with an oversized jacket. A blush-pink dress was paired with a black knit cardigan from Soho Market which featured striking, vivid patches including a tiger in mid-roar. An oversized black bomber, hanging off one shoulder, tossed over a short strappy animal print dress, majorly ripped tights and Docs, was another fierce look, as was Nine Crow’s fabulous black leather jacket slashed with bold streaks of pastel paint and worn over a short black velvet skirt and fishnets.
Athleisure made an appearance, with one 90s throwback featuring wide legged camo cargo pants from Helter Skelter in Temple Bar and an oversized cream hoody from Fresh Cuts. This was followed by some preppier looks, with one collegiate model sporting a structured Magee coat, collared shirt, pinstriped shorts and loafers with ankle socks. The pinstripes reappeared in the form of a loose M&S shirt casually tucked into a pair of straight cut bright red Om Diva trousers.
The appearance of the REPEAL jumper demonstrated the political power of the fashion industry, but the show also delighted in the joy of dressing up. A loose white Anya Hindmarch mini dress with layers of tulle at sleeves and base, paired with white runners, was demonstrative of this. High heeled strappy sandals also proved to be a popular way to add sophistication to a quirky look, be it a bright red kimono-style top or a baby-pink velvet wrap dress.
The show’s celebration of past decades of style and iconic examples of youth culture resulted in a show that felt fresh, relevant and exciting. The enormous amount of work that the society had dedicated to the show paid off. It was a spectacular success!
Photographs by Guy Boggan, courtesy of Fashion Soc.
