Fashions Finest is excited to announce its designers for the AW22 season taking place at 7:30 pm on the 19th of February 2022 at St John's Hyde Park, Hyde Park Crescent, London, W2 2QD.

The six-piece collection is inspired by delicacy, femininity and royalty. These red-carpet-worthy evening gowns are pompous and unapologetically ostentatious.

Each piece designed by Kaffa Mockbill tells its own story and consists of different high-quality materials like tulle, satin and detailed embroidery.

Photographer Joanna Mitroi

In total there are five couture dresses and one bridal gown, which closed the show, having the audience gazing upon its impressive ball gown silhouette. Colours are ranging from soft muted yellow, rosé, cream white, and turquoise to vibrant magenta. All pieces represent some of Kaffa's personal favourite cuts and designs. While a monochrome lemon yellow gown comes in a rather narrow shape being snug from the waist down to the hem, other designs impose with impressive wide skirts and flowy materials. From puddle trains to royal trains, Kaffa's designs indeed encapsulate elegance as well as sophistication. She made it her mission to shake up the Couture branch of the fashion industry with her diverse designs and shows that there are many forms, silhouettes and materials to be discovered and merged in creative and innovative ways to create something entirely new.

Follow Kaffa Mockbill on Instagram

Fiechter’s “Monks of The Monastery” echoes through the old ST John’s church, while one after the next model slowly strolls down the catwalk, showcasing a six-piece collection.

It could not have been a more fitting location and scenery, featuring a huge golden altar, high ceilings and Christian stained-glass windows depicting Biblical individuals and stories.

Photographer Mikey San

Irish designer Jana Simone showcased her new faith and religion inspired collection. The 23 year-old studied fashion and textile design at Ulster University Belfast where she acquired her bachelor’s and master’s degree. The name “God’s Creation” references her incorporation of nature as an inspiration. Overall, each individual piece and the collection as a whole are very personal to herself, as she is a dedicated Catholic and was strongly shaped by her upbringing and surroundings in a small secluded Irish town. She is keen to broadcast that she respects every kind of religion and culture but aimed to express herself through this collection, therefore focusing on her personal belief system, Christianity. Accordingly, myriad forms of iconography, be it in hand applied embroidery or the extensive accessories like lace veils, crosses, crowns, or jewellery to name a few.

Naturally she also drew on historical influences as Britain’s history has always been closely intertwined with religion.This can be seen in  A massive old rosary necklace from roughly 60 years ago belonging to her grandmother. Lots of crucifixes in various sizes were part of every piece. Moreover, Simone uses a great variation of textiles to create movement and consciously aimed for an older touch with a multitude of carefully hand embroidered parts.

She regularly watches old catwalk shows from infamous designers like Versace, Alexander Mc Queen and Vivienne Westwood online in order to stay up to date with trends in the fashion industry. Another source of inspiration are fashion magazines and of course social media like Instagram and TikTok. So, what can we expect in the future? Jana tries to do each collection differently, depending on what sparks her interest at the moment. With the previous collection being all about sustainability for instance, it is apparent that this young and passionate designer has considerable far reaching ideas and is always eager to create something new and unique.

www.instagram.com/janasimone_fashion

In the scenographic surroundings of St John's in Hyde Park, Fashions Finest's editorial team had a privileged sight on current trends and next Spring/Summer beauty forecast.

Nail art by Julie Bryan & team. Images by V. Chirico

Fashions Finest followed the makeup, hair styling and nail art teams during its LFW showcase to explore this season's most buzzed beauty trends. We had a look at what we should expect for next season, all in the making of the show.

A good old flick through popular magazines would be enough to stay up-to-date with the latest trends. What if you could have a close encounter with the style-makers and learn from the experts? Fashions Finest followed the teams led by Michelle Strain, Julie Bryan, and Amy Tasker on this mission. We popped behind the scenes during Fashions Finest's London Fashion Week event for a preview of next Spring/Summer trends and steal the best for your autumnal look straight from the catwalk.

SS22: a 20s' touch with finger waves. Amy Tasker & team.

The warmer season will see sweet hairstyles doing their come back. 'I would expect to see volumised bouffants with textured raw hair keeping the hair feeling and looking natural, sleek wet hair with styled baby hair on the forehead giving a fresh youthful appearance and finger waves to create the 1920s' glamorous timeless appeal' says Amy Tasker, lead hairstylist.

Streetstyle and low-maintenance updos are totally in these autumn and winter months, helping us to be ready in a snap. In fact, 'the 70's shaggy look is back with the grown out middle-parted bangs and invisible layers. Box braids are really popular right now as well as random plaits throughout the hair', continues Amy.

If you feel it is time to make a change with a new hair colour, pick yours from the warm palette of the moment. 'The seasons most anticipated colours are Caramel, Honey and Gold adding more warmth into the hair. For brunettes, it's definitely Espresso and Chocolate creating more of richer look and image.' This is the expert's advice.

Whether is autumn or springtime, the very essential for your makeup look is within you: 'I think always - for every season - is just a really good skin', international makeup artist from AOFM London Michelle Strain recommends. 

SS22 makeup: bright colours. Makeup by Michelle Strain & AOFM team

The makeup seems to reflect the natural colour surrounding us, as Michelle continues: 'I think we are definitely going to get more, richer colours like very bright lips with deeper tones.'

In Spring/Summer 22, the inspiration for your makeup is just outside the window with 'pastels, beautiful pretty blossom type of colours, because this is obviously what comes through with the clothing. Nice pastel pinks, peachies, blues for the eyes. Just really nice, pretty colours.'
If the next season's colour scheme comes from Mother Nature and our refreshed wardrobe, you need to know that 'definitely just a nice, glow, fresh healthy skin is always the way forward'.'

In winter/autumn nails tinge in sobriety. Julie Bryan, celebrities nail technician notices that 'people wear a lot of black in the autumn and winter. So I think the colour scheme, what we've done here today, will match autumn/winter and spring/summer. So we've got nudes: nude is going to be big as well. Loads of nudes.' As the days brighten up, so your nails do with 'a lot of neons again. They started to creep back in just as we went into lockdown. Lots of bright colours, which will be showcased in all fashion week.'

The models were sporting a rainbow of neons paired with gemstones applied as finger jewels. Without glue and rhinestones, this nail art is the idea to steal if you have some spare time for it! 'We've done the nails on the trend, so you have different neons on each end of the nail, painstakingly done', proudly points out Julie.

Every season has its colour but also its shapes too! This Autumn/Winter sees a drastic - very welcomed - change: 'coffins - some people call it coffins, some people call it 'ballerina' - that sort had its day, the nail trend that a lot of celebrities is going for is coming away from the acrylics and going more for the natural nail look.'

The beauty of nail art is in its everchanging nature, like the weather in the UK: 'the trend with nail art changes monthly, basically, so we had the mirror nails come and go, the chrome nails come and go. So it's using your own knowledge and your artistry... Just go with the flow! Don't make it too hard.'

Go with the flow, embrace natural shades and an effortless approach to hairstyling. Could you believe the catwalk was radiating so much naturalness?

More from our LFW behind the scenes? Follow Fashions Finest on Instagram.

Moving between Rome and London over the last 18 months, Giulia Valeri of Ad Astra has been continually inspired by multiple sources. On the day, Valeri wears Ad Astra knitwear which typifies her approach to her collections: the white ribbed puff sleeve knitted blouse is accented by a multicoloured zigzag hem around the wrists and the neck of the blouse.

Choosing bold elegance, her collection is a dynamic conversation starter rather than a bold declaration of being present.

Photographer Joanna Mitroi

By combining tassels, bows and frills to standardised uniform of trousers or skirt and blouse, the collection highlights the malleability of feminine contours. A black mini dress is not simply that but embellished with a subtle flounce on the shoulder strip, thereby exaggerating the character and silhouette of an individualistic approach to this classic. Valeri's designs are simplistic, yet on a closer look rich in details and never boring. Every single piece is gorgeously figure hugging and favourably accentuating the female silhouette.

A constant theme throughout this collection are geometric bold cuts and colour pattern combinations, most prevalent in three designs merging a fiery red, nude and rosé tone. The unusual pairing with lavishly embroidered tassels in varying length make the pieces interesting and unique, adding an unexpected twist to their form. They especially come to retribution whilst in movement, steadily flowing in accordance to walking speed.

Structured knitwear that inverts with the corset, draws attention to the waist rather than restricting. Ribbed shirts feature adjustable sleeves, numerous fabrics are hold together by bows, and corsetry tops can be freely adjusted in width. Thereby, Valerie minimises stiff fabrication closures like zippers and buttons and allows the customer to individually contrive the pieces to their best comfort. This collection contrives new daring and fresh ideas by adding distinct twists to established silhouettes and forms.

www.adastrathebrand.com

The Dublin-based designer Sharon Sweeney studied and worked in the environmental sector, which contributed to her passion for and commitment to sustainability in terms of using sustainable, organic, and locally sourced fabrics.

Photographer Joanna Mitroi

The collection Swanzy Land is constructed by Irish Linen, cotton, ramie, Tencel as well as deadstock fabrics.

It pays homage to the late pioneering modernist artist Mary Swanzy, an Irish landscape and genre artist, who dived into many different styles, among which she is acclaimed for being one of the country’s first abstract painters. Sweeney makes similar use of a muted and pastel colour palette throughout.

A pale lilac short pantsuit fuses feminine details like the Moschino-esque heart-shaped buttons with a harsher geometrical and abstract futuristic shape and cutouts. A white cropped Renaissance blouse with huge puff sleeves and tight button-downs on the sleeves brings past and future together. Sweeney showcases an interesting and abstract aesthetic with clashing contrast, yet they jointly create something new and concise.

www.sharonsweeney.com

Radiqal Tat, a London-based brand headed by artist-come-designer Veronica Fox, debuted its collection with Fashions Finest on the 18th of September as part of LFW.

Photographer Mikey San

Featuring only plus-sized models, Radiqal Tat opened Fashions Finest’s LFW show. The explosive beat of ‘90s house music marked the beginning of the event.

One by one, the models showcased Radiqal Tat's SS22 collection which combined mesh, foam padding, deconstructed sports tops, a classic pencil-skirt silhouette and a skin-tone palette.

Completing the look, the models were styled with vibrant peach-coloured wigs. The collection is committed to playing with conventional ideas of fashion. Opting for what Fox calls an “almost run-of-the-mill” look, with bits missing and “bits not quite covering what should be covered”, the collection successfully transports the spectator away from the everyday. 

Fox’s declaration of positive otherness and escapism in her work, she says was greatly inspired by '80s performance artist and maverick, Leigh Bowery, as well as Bowery’s collaborator dancer Michael Clark and designer duo BodyMap. All together they challenged the mainstream notions of fashionability through costume, music and movement.

Speaking to the event’s Creative Director, Tanya, she noted that the theme for the day was confidence and to ‘Bring the Fire’. Diversity in all forms was also key: 'Diversity is crucial because it opens up a different dimension to the world.' And Radiqal Tat certainly did this.

Fashions Finest, is known for promoting diversity, representation, and inclusion in the fashion industry since its inception, presented this London Fashion Week season, true to brief a diversity of unique and beautiful collections by emerging designers.

Fashions Finest emerges post-lockdown for its SS22 on the 18th of September 2021 at St John’s Church, 18 Hyde Park Crescent, London, W2 2QD.

The good news keeps flowing for the fashion industry as the British Fashion Council (BFC) announces the provisional line-up for the London Fashion Week presented by Clearpay.