Hungry eyes lined the catwalk, as
excitement for VFS’s first show got under way this morning. We spotted ELLE’s
Accessory Editor Donna Wallace on the front row and behind her, keen viewers
edged closer to the runway at every available opportunity. As the lights
dimmed, Eudon Choi’s models made their eagerly anticipated entrance.
The first model stepped out in a white
minimal tunic dress and deep red sports jacket establishing a sense of the collection.
What followed carried with it a refined and modern interpretation of sportswear
from the late 60’s and early 70’s. Knee grazing dresses created simple boyish
silhouettes with sporadic splashes or colour, in candy pinks, saturated lilacs,
and other almost sugar coated shades. However, detail presented itself in a
demure manner with clean geometric block or stripes that were at times
asymmetrically placed. These colourful flickers were otherwise restrained by a
palette that was muted and uncomplicated.
As these classic shapes brushed past us the
influences of sportswear where undeniable boxy masculine bomber jackets, sheer
tank tops and leather edged gym shorts. Each familiar shape feminised by
youthful and elegant touches. The fabrics gave each piece a lux finish and
metallic embroidery in gold and pink reinvented references from the decades
gone by. The buttery double fused Napa leathers, silk, linen, and resin coated
cotton stitched side by side enhanced the beautiful structure of the coats and
one-pieces. Effortless, while still rich in texture and substance.
“My key tip for my collection is declutter,”
Choi told us backstage, after his gracious wave to the crowd. A little
speechless and then giddy at times, he explained the influences behind his
collection and the research that had gone in to forming it, “I trawled through
old magazines like Vogue and wanted to rewrite late 60’s sportswear with
technology”. Referencing Le Corbusier he played with classic sportswear shapes
to demonstrate his own take on modernism.
“ I am so grateful to VFS they pioneered my career and gave me the
platform to launch myself.”
Text: Samantha Farr
Text: Samantha Farr