Daily Front Row

2008 February 12

Eley Kishimoto - London Fall 2008

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Eley Kishimoto Fall 2008
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(LONDON) Roll Call: Jean Cacharel

Chic Report: A ‘60s Alice in Wonderland: That could describe Eley Kishimoto's Fall collection. Cue here harlequin dresses, ivory coats with white gloves, ponytails and Mary Janes with bows. No wonder their infamous prints were taken out of the "showy comical cartoon world," as they said; Tricky Sleeves, Horses, Finale (a juxtapostion of bright geometric patterns) and Bunny Dance, where you guessed it, oversized bunny rabbits were mixed with polka dots, on mini dresses and chiffon blouses. The husband and wife partnership also showed an array of tweed coats, "a twist on the quintessential class of British living," but theirs was done with tongue-in-chic; with oversized Peter Pan collars and doll-like faces with green fake eyelashes, mixed with strawberry pink corduroy ensembles. Eley Kishimoto has definitely come a long way; for this collection the designers proved they are capable of translating their cartoonish vision into something wearable and commercial. Case in point, their outstanding collection of knits, like the blouses and skirts with graphical and geometric patterns and color-block cardigans in vivid orange, mustard and purple. No wonder, they have been asked to revive the quirky yet commercial French house of Cacharel.