Goldin Girl

Topshop have had so many amazing collaborations with great designers over the years. They seem completely on the pulse about who's going to be huge and I love that they go for the slightly off-kilter designers to create capsule collections for them. My first experience of these partnerships was when they had Hussein Chalayan design for them. I bought a few pieces from the collection about 10 years ago.

However the one complaint I had, and have had ever since, is that the collections are often hugely  watered down, sometimes bearing only a negligible similarity to the designer's signature work. Obviously there are exceptions such as Christopher Kane and Todd Lynn, which did have a very definite feel of their mainline collections.

So when I saw SS09 Louise Goldin, I hoped and prayed that Topshop would allow her to stay truer to her vision when she creates her next line for them. This is one incredible collection.

It's extreme in it's design yet   she manages to make it not look like a Stormtrooper outfit.

There are elements which remind me of AW08 Mario Schwab with molded bust details and the body-con silhouettes but mostly it's Goldin pushing herself to the limit. I love how she has utilised the sheer tops and shorts to soften up the look along with the stunning muted colours.

Will we see any of this sculptural loveliness in Topshop? Highly unlikely. I suspect her satellite earth print will make it into the TS collection somewhere, but what else I don't know. I will keep my fingers crossed that they let her go a bit crazy this time and do something a bit more extreme. Obviously budget restraints are a huge factor when deciding what can be produced, but I don't think I speak only for myself when I say that I'd happily pay a good bit more if I got something that had more of an essence of the designer present, and that goes for all the collaborations not just Goldins.

Queen Michelle

Comments

[WendyB]

Ah, but paying a good bit more defeats the whole purpose of Topshop, doesn't it? It's hard to get a customer who is used to a deal to get into a significantly higher pricepoint.

[kelsey]

I really want a pair of those sheer leggings

[Christine]

This collection is amazing! I had never heard of this designer before. I love your blog by the way!

[issa]

oooh so very extreme yet the subtle coloring definitely softens it

[KD]

Would you pay $350 for a CDG for H&M dress?

[enc]

Unfortunately, I doubt the masses are ready for such extraordinariness, but we can hope that the main elements are present in the Topshop pieces.

[Style Eyes]

I absolutely love the collection. I am not overly fussed about the high street designer collections which usually are a long way from the real designer collections. Like you said I don't think they really reflect the creativity of the designer. But then would that really sell on the highstreet? Apart from to us fashion bloggers!