London, Sept 22: Established London fashion names Elspeth Gibson and Ben de Lisi showed contrasting Spring/Summer 2004 collections on the second day of London Fashion Week on Sunday (September 21). American-born de Lisi put on a glamorous show sparkling with sequins and crystals. Floor-length evening dresses in bold geometric prints were slashed to the thigh and cocktail dresses were worn tight and short. Silk, georgette and chiffon were the key fabrics, but denim and leather also put in an appearance in jeans, fitted jackets and tiny hotpants. The collection was predominantly black, white and hot pink, with accents in lime green and aquamarine.
"It was all about strong, bold graphic conceptual, with nuances of Picasso in the print," said de Lisi. De Lisi is best known for his glamorous evening wear. Actress Kate Winslet wore one of his creations at the Oscars ceremony in 2002. He also designs a pared-down 'capsule' collection for British high street chain Debenhams. Contrasting with de Lisi's glamour queens, British designer Elspeth Gibson sent fairy princesses down her catwalk. Drawing inspiration from the 1920s flapper girl and the 1950s debutante, the collection was muted and feminine.
Entitled 'Flower of Venus', the collection featured plenty of Gibson's trademark beading with delicate, floaty dresses dripping with crystals and feathers. Colours were pale pinks, lilacs and blues and fabrics were georgette and silk, often printed with roses or delicate candy-stripes.
Elspeth Gibson is known for her cashmere knits, evening dresses and separates in beaded and antique-style fabrics. Pop star Madonna, actresses Cate Blanchett and Elizabeth Hurley and Queen Rania of Jordan rank among her clients.
London Fashion Week, which follows New York and precedes Milan, runs until Wednesday and includes shows from some of Britain's best-known designers including Paul Smith, Jean Muir, Nicole Farhi, Jasper Conran and Katharine Hamnett.
Bureau Report