For his debut solo show at NZFW, emerging designer Wynn Hamlyn let interior design details from bygone eras lend an historical edge to modern silhouettes.
Show vibe: Inspired by the decorative and delightfully dated Axminster carpets of the 19th century (think those hard-wearing floor coverings of varying colours and patterns, commonly found in country houses and hotels), Wynn Crawshaw’s AW17 collection is a lesson in how tapestry-themed textiles can transform our winter wardrobes.
Fabrics, features and stand-out pieces: True to the collection’s namesake, carpet featured heavily in coats, dresses, bags and belts, but curtains were also clearly front-of-mind for the designer who finished several garments with oversized eyelets and tassel accents.
Accessory game: Glen Prentice’s beaded tassel earrings have found their way into many a Mercantile shopping cart of ours, but never have they made more sense than in this context. Proceed to checkout.
Beauty look: Hair was polished and feminine worn slicked back off the face and brushed out into loose waves. We’ve seen variations on this theme from a few designers already this NZFW and we are definitely getting the memo. Off to buy a tub of Helena now.
Styling tips you need to try: No belt? No problem. Wrap a hallway runner around your waist, fasten with a denim D-ring belt and walk out the door. Try the same trick with a tasseled curtain rope for a more low key feel.
Lighting and set design: While the rest of us are just trying to coordinate our sunnies with our ensembles, Wynn Crawshaw is busy matching each model’s marmalade-tinted lenses to his show’s opening lighting sequence. Otherwise clean and minimal, the production aesthetic let the collection’s rich colours and textures take centre stage.
Spotted from the front row: A Lily-Rose Depp lookalike walking the runway in the aforementioned eyewear — Chanel eat your heart out.
Soundtrack highlights: Wynn told us he had Young Thug on repeat last week, but today’s playlist was mature and obscure, featuring moody instrumentals from Akira Yamaoka, Biosphere and Fennesz.
Winter wardrobe wishlist: An oversized carpet bag packed full of silk shirting and fine, pleated pieces in shades of chartreuse, Bordeaux, and black, preferably to be worn during a weekend away at an Axminster-era hotel.
One thing we learnt from Wynn Hamlyn: We might be in the midst of a 90s revival with a 2000s redux on the horizon, but fashion isn’t done throwing way, way back if this collection is anything to go by.
