Pepto-Bismal pink sheepskin, dominatrix PVC and kitsch slogan patches, take a look at Ashley Williams AW15.
Take a Trip to Mars
From a glittery key-hole, underneath a neon sign that read “Ashley’s”, the likes of Georgia May Jagger, Alice Dellal and Immy Waterhouse stomped down the catwalk in Ashley Williams’ 90s-reference heavy AW15 collection, to the sounds of L7 “Pretend We’re Dead” and other riot-grrl anthems. Think 80s metal band T’s, knee-exposing trousers, cartoon faces stitched on jumpers – that translated to chintzy prints on drain-pipe trousers dresses, skirts and tote bags – neon pink cropped jumpers complete with kitsch patches, crocheted Pikachu yellow and black wrist-warmers and star studded patent shoes – the product of Williams second collaboration with Red or Dead. Paying homage to the likes of Kathleen Hanna and Chloe Sevigny, this collection is for all the sexy, street-smart girls out there, the ones who aren’t afraid to stick two fingers up at society.
Pepto-Bismal Pink
The OMG moment came in the shape of a Pepto-Bismal pink sheepskin coat, complete with an oversized sheepskin bucket hat in a slick of the same sweet hue. Why the pink? “It’s sickly! It’s just a good colour isn’t it?,” says Williams backstage. The same candy-floss sheepskin formed collars and cuffs on vampish PVC outerwear. “The PVC is just to give it a bit of an edge,” says Williams. “To make sure it’s not too bubblegum.”
Slogan Speak
Prints that read: “Last Chance to Escape”, dresses that proclaim: “Improve your image be seen with me” and printed bone lettering that spells out “Plastic Surgery” – Williams’ AW15 colelction was packed with bratty slogans from start to finish. “I was just looking at different graphic styles and t-shirt styles through the ages, like 90s skateboard style graphics and 80s metal t-shirt graphics. So just those styles and the way they used to type, the way they used to print and the imagery they used,” she explains. “I also looked at old book covers by R. L. Stine, he has really good book covers that look like they could be t-shirt graphics. So I was just looking at them and I just really like the words ‘Plastic Surgery’!”
Words: Brooke McCord.
Photography: Thurstan Redding.