It's rare that I fall in love with a menswear collection, in fact I can probably count on one hand those that I would put into the LOVE category (Westwood every season and Givenchy's Rottweilers are two). And now, thanks to Palmer//Harding - a rather lovely design duo I stumbled upon at Somerset House over fashion week - I can add another to the list.
You may not know this, but I have a lot of shirts. And I mean a lot. I love shirts. My latest is a vintage 80s silk Versace. Palmer//Harding's foundation is shirting. In fact on their website it states that the label is: 'focused on bringing directional design to a traditionally neglected garment in a wardrobe, the shirt'.
Leafing through the collection they were showcasing, Autumn Winter 2012, you should have seen my face. With each shirt I gave a squeal - 'Ohmygod I love this one', 'This one is amazing', 'Ohhhhh look at this one!'.
Folds, pleats, pins, drapes and long kaftan lengths all made up their AW12 collection, and in just black and white, Palmer//Harding have quite literally made up my entire new season's wardrobe.
What's more, their collar choices were impeccable. I asked where they came from, and Mr Harding told me that they had found a box of 1921 aero-collars that they archived and used in a library for this collection and next. Genius!
We are also told of this new collection that: '...soft draping meets the structural boldness of Bruno Walpoth's wooden sculptures, creating a garment that is beautifully sculpted against and away from the body.
'For AW12, the shirt has been elongated and exaggerated... Relaxed shirt-tails lengthen the silhouette to evoke a grungy undertone...' I won't go on, but all the above and below have stimulated my fashion taste-buds. I need the lot. NOWWW!
Here's a few images from Palmer//Harding's Spring Summer 2012 campaign as well, all of which I want to own too!
