Hussein Chalayan Spring 2012

The spring collection for 2012 from Hussein Chalayan is feminine, floral and sweet. It feels like a far cry from the more edgy style he created at Central St Martins and shortly afterwards but all designers naturally need to evolve. I think it is a good collection which flatters women and isn't that what it is all about? If lots of women buy Chalayan's clothes next season it will be a beautiful spring.

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Alfhild Külper

Keep an eye on Alfhild Küpler, BA graduate from Central St Martins this year. If the graduate show is any indication we have good things to come. Since I'm a sucker for blue I was sold from the get go.





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Christopher Kane

Christopher Kane is a Scottish designer born in 1982 and who graduated from Central St Martins in 2006. The same year he started his own label together with his sister, Tammy Kane. Christopher Kane has won lots of accolades already which should come as no surprise to anyone when they see his colourful creations that also hold a touch of magic.

If you haven't discovered Christopher Kane already - do!

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Prince Pelayo

Sometimes you have hunt for gems and sometimes you just stumble over them. Prince Pelayo has a good blog. I felt rejuvanated and energized looking at it. He lives in London and studies at Central St Martins which gives him two extra stars in my book. He has a good sense of style and I particularily like a picture where he wears a kilt. I actually like kilts. You find his blog here.



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Katharine Hamnett

Katharine Hamnett is mostly famous for her t-shirts with printed statements on them. This was during the 1980s and she was then the most copied designer of all. Copying is the most sincere form of flattery after all, don't you agree. In the 21st century she reintroduced her t-shirts. Perhaps not the huge success it had been back then but still a success.

Katherine Hamnett is a graduate from Central St Martins and she founded her company in 1979. Apart from her t-shirts Hamnett is known for her ethical approach on fashion business. A brave lady and it definitely takes balls standing in front of The Iron Lady in a t-shirt protesting said's politics.


Katherine Hamnett did part of her education in Sweden. In my book that earns her a bunch of brownie points.


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Rifat Ozbek

Here you see the man who is partly responsible for me going to London to study fashion, Rifat Ozbek. He was born in Turkey in the 1950s and moved to London to study architecture but ended up doing fashion instead and graduated from Central st Martins in 1976. He started his own business and has been going strong ever since.

He has a style that is western but with lots of exotic and ethnic influences which I have always liked. In the picture above we see Kate Moss in the beginning of her career and that was the fashion Rifat Ozbek presented when I was in London and it was gorgeous.

When I went to Sixth Form College in Sweden I wanted to go out in the world and learn about design. I wanted to be in Paris, because Paris is fashion! But I didn't speak French. That didn't stop me from sending a letter to Jean-Paul Gaultier. He actually answered. A big thing when you are eighteen.

Then I set my sights on London and I thought it would be cool to work for Rifat Ozbek. He advised me to apply to London College of Fashion, which I did. That is why Rifat Ozbek is partly the reason why I ended up in London and I am eternally grateful to him because what an adventure I experienced.

One day in London I actually ran into him in the street, stopped him (naturally), introduced myself ... nearly jumped his bones ...

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Central St Martins

Karin Malm

Central St Martins is the best fashion college in the world, according to me. Parsons and the like have to excuse. The final shows are always a treat and the creativity is large. Above we see the work of Karin Malm from Sweden from the final show 2010. You clearly see the Scandinavian simplicity and being Scandinavian I like what I see.

Anne-Karine Thorbjoernsen

Perhaps not so much Scandinavian in Anne-Karine's outfit but it is definitely intriguing and promises a hefty dose of creativity in her as a designer.

Lee Roach

I like the simplicity of Lee Roach's outfit and I have always been a sucker för black. On the other hand I don't like the sandals and the silk stockings but who says that you have to buy it right off.

Kwan Tae Kim

I like Kwan's outfit, mostly because of the sci-fi feel. Science fiction films and tv-series have always been a great source of inspiration for me and then particularily the shows from the 1960s and the 1970s.

Onez Lau

I think the outfit above is fun. Reminds me of my Space Viking collection. It is funny how influences and styles return and how some seem to be on constant repeat. Today everything is more mingled than before and different styles seem to return faster and faster.

Zoe Cheng

Zoe Cheng

Zoe Cheng's dresses are beautiful and fascinating. Perhaps not so wearable but clothes made at Central St Martins and other fashion colleges don't necessarily have so much to do with comfort and wearability. Creativity and a talent for thinking outside the box is what is of importance, and they should definitely take the opportunity because out in the real world everything is controlled by the mighty pound.

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John Galliano

John Galliano is one of the brightest stars on fashion heaven and has already written himself into the history books. It would be interesting to step into the mind of John Galliano. I expect it to be a very colourful world. A man that can dream up dresses like the ones we see above is a genius of his trade.

Galliano was born in Gibraltar in 1960. He went to the prestigious school Central St Martins and graduated in 1984. His graduation collection inspired by the French revolution was bought by Browns. He started his own label and started a rocky road of creative triumphs and economic whirlwinds. In 1995 he was appointed head designer of the fashion house Givenchy and in 1996 moved on to Dior. Both brands felt old and outdated before John Galliano injected a well needed dose of energy into them and made them hotter than hot cakes.

At fashion college he was an idol and an inspiration. Every student of course wanted to end up generating the same atention as John Galliano. I remember when Kate Moss paraded down the catwalk in a Union Jack jacket and nothing much else. It was all the buzz.

His menswear is just as atention grabbing. I wouldn't exactly run to the shops and attack the racks of clothes like a stampede. Unless I was going to attend a masquerade.

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