[London] Obscure Couture AW 2012

Showing as part of the A La Mode collective, the Obscure Couture girls are a ballsy pair who design from thie East End studio in the Barras, Glasgow, taking their signature style to the"A La Mode" showcase in the vaults of the RCA. Their third catwalk presentation during London Fashion Week, the garments were their signature punk couture mash up of sex and full frontal colour, with corseting, hot pants and gowns. The inspiration was a twenty four hour party, a heady youthful celebration of debauched glamour, with all the madness and glitter that goes with it. Colours were candy bright despite the dark references, a peach leather dress with oversized gold studs was shown with scarlet faux fur jacket and flower head piece. A fish tail gown in lemon and a cigarette pant in the same tone shown with giant bow tie. A round the clock extravaganza, there was also darker references in the leather corset and pant shown with a pink leather collar from which swathers of pink material flowed, reminiscent of the hazy recollections of intoxicated vision. All models wore bright pink bob wigs with lips painted both purple and pink. A gown with enormous tiered train in black leather, gold and pink was classic Obscure Couture, while the most thrilling look by far was a heart-shaped head-piece pierced by a syringe bearing the words "Love is the drug" worn with a cocktail dress in opulent gold and pink fabrics and faux fur. A brilliant and witty hand gesture to fast and faceless fashion, the only thing letting the collection down was a venue that gave poor visibilty to all but the front row. However, the girls from Glasgow clearly have great potential for the future and I'd love to see them do their own show next season.