De Montfort University Contour Show

Nicola Tubbs

Samantha Tretton

Emma Davies

Carley Williamson

Last night saw fashion stripped down to its bare essentials for the De Montfort Contour show held at Fashion Scout’s Freemasons Hall. Sat next to Sue Loder, industry big wig from the lingerie empire Triumph, and two steps from some very well known PR players, De Montfort clearly takes its underwear very seriously indeed.


Nicola Tubbs’s pretty, swan like collection was the strongest of the first group, with dense, tufty peplum hips, frilly ivory knickers and hand painted silk. Fragile, mini crinis extended out jauntily from swinging hips and a champagne-toned, ivory colour palette gave a beautiful, old world feel to the modern silhouettes. Frilly but not fussy, Tubbs cleverly balanced architectural, sculptural shapes with fine, dainty details to create a clean, elegant aesthetic.


Samantha Tretton also gave ultra feminine a bash, however hers was a Breakfast at Tiffany’s, long white gloves and pearls affair. Crisp, zingy greens and lush, watermelon pinks sashayed down the runway, as models swung 50’s style hat boxes and prim little purses from their pristine, gloved arms. Strings of white pearls adorned every neck and neat, floral prints peeped from the curve of a cup and the panel of a corset. The star of the collection was a vast, rigid cage-like crinoline, with struts made from reams of stiffened lace.


Away from the retro ladylike look and fast forwarding into the future was Emma Davies and her space age, starry eyed collection. Glamazons in slick black aviators and with hooded, leather corseted bodies stalked silently down the runway, as monkinis, two pieces and vast, billowing hoods gave swimwear an entirely new level of sophistication. Incredibly beautiful, celestial inspired prints, splattered with stars, nebulas, comets and galaxies in earthy, mushroom tones shimmered and quivered under the lights, and alien-like, jutting vertebrae protruded from black, wet look latex.


Flowers and lingerie seem to be a match made in frilly pant heaven however; Carley Williamson was, for me, the one who came up with the goods on the night. After watching countless oyster-toned, satin creations glide down the runway, Williamson’s ice cream hued, botanical collection was as refreshing as a long, ice cold Mojito. Soft, pastel tones lifted dark, graphic prints and gorgeous marshmallow, sherbet and mint shades lapped against skin tight catsuits and feminine, pussy bow blouses. Romantic and rocky in one, Williamson’s collection was dreamy, creamy and delicious.


High on skill, colour combos and lots and lots of flesh on show, the De Montfort graduate collections were super wearable and right on trend. Pure, peachy perfection.


Fiona Anderson


Images: Simon Armstrong www.simonarmstrong.com