For spring/summer 12 Raf Simons explored the nurturing side of femininity by offering an emotional response to beauty parlours. Dedicated to nourishing and emotional well-being, beauty parlours and spas summon images of purity, cleanliness, strength and positivity, which is exactly what we saw on Raf Simon’s catwalk. The collection started life with the iconic Jil Sander white shirt. From here it metamorphosised into clinical white-shirt dresses, front-buttoned jackets and coats (reminiscent of those worn by beauticians), before climaxing in a beautiful wedding dress worn by i-D cover star Natasha Poly. Abstract Picasso prints added a pictorial spin to chic white knits. Magnificent fluro pink, blue and green paisley prints accentuated the whites of pencil skirts, shift dresses and slim-fitting trouser suits. While glistening organza checks, blue and white gingham shorts and lightly veiled sculptural hats, in collaboration with milliner Stephen Jones, created a sense of calm. Backstage Raf described the collection as the final outing in his couture trilogy, and it tied-up ideas explored over the two previous seasons with artful finesse. With looks staying in your head long after the show, this was yet another collection cementing Raf’s position as one of the most exciting designers of our time.
Text: Holly Shackleton
Photography: Mitchell Sams
