LFW: Jasper Conran AW19 Collection Is Making Sportswear Great Again
Jasper Conran knows a thing or two about sportswear. While most designer talent from the state's journey to Europe to sharpen their design skills, Conran flipped the script and headed west across the pond to study at Parson’s School of Design in New York City where his peers at the time included Stephen Burrows, Donna Karan at Ann Klein, Halston and Calvin Klein. AW19 found Conran digging back into those late 70's New York roots. For this collection, traditional separates: jumpers, straight skirts, and sweat tops and classic shirting became "the dress."
The silhouettes were loose fitting for comfort; pockets and skirt slits for mobility provided the ingredients for function, and expert color-blocking, particularly on the organza and tulle layered dressed created a buffalo plaid look that was just beautiful as the models glided down the runway in pairs of almost flat mule slip ones. Single stripes down the front or side of scarlet dresses felt like a luxury take on fashion's continuous fixation with athleisure clothing and curved, and angled hems on separates were street style fresh. For evening and 91st Academy Awards red carpet options, aside from the tulle and organza layered option included a sleeveless, asymmetric pleat and panel dress. It didn't pack the same punch as its transparent collection mates, but still, the dress was undoubtedly gorgeous, and with the runway images as proof, it’s no question that it would look great in photographs.
