Beautifully Damned: As sugarcoated naivety and candy colours trend this season – much too soon before real summer – we hone in on the trend to inject it with a sullied new spirit, full of quiet revolt. Re-visiting Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides, this month’s shoot encapsulates a whimsical, unhinged innocence – an alternative to the suffocating pastel sweetness and puffy fifties shapes pervading throughout the spring/summer collections. Captured by Martha Boxley’s cinematic lens, the youthful endearment of the images gives its starring motif – florals – a poetic new lease of life. While some designers opted for tradition, lace appliqué and couture ambition (à la Chanel and Pucci), others like Christopher Kane dived headfirst to churn out childlike stickers on transparent organza chiffon, as inspired by a girl’s musings on her bedroom wall.

Current London print queen Mary Katrantzou sought a slouchier, and ultimately cooler, silhouette with photo-glazing of decadent gardens forming a lush canvas on her sculptural, slightly tailored cuts. Those more attuned to the harder winter season [unable to detract from long, oversized silhouettes] will revel in the multiplicity the trend provides: sports-infused bulky shoes (from trainers to Doc Martens to the silvery Rochas pair seen above) provide an edge to the ethereal all-white dresses. Indeed, it’s icy white – the colour of the season – lead by Louis Vuitton, Jil Sander and Versace that balances the sugarcane saturation of girls on horses at an idyllic fairground; following Coppola’s suit, this is a more voyeuristic, yet not less any majestic, walk across this season’s fairy tale park.

Photographer: Martha Boxley
Fashion Editor: Francesca Prudente
Words: Modesta Dziautaite

Anya Barker & Clea Martin at Storm Models
Riley Hillyer at Select

Hair: Klare Wilkinson using Kevin Murphy
Make Up: Emily Mergaert using Chanel SS12 and Hydra Beauty Serum
Fashion Assistance: Miguel Santos