HARD-EDGED ROMANCE WITH A FEMININE FLAIR

As a not very girly-girl, I am always on the lookout for women’s fashion with an edge.  Don’t get me wrong, I love to look at flouncy and pink (I even write these blogs on a pink laptop), but I knew a long time ago that I couldn’t wear those ultra-feminine styles.  They just don’t feel comfortable.

So I look forward to Katya Leonovich’s collections every season.  Her girl is the one who’s out clubbing all night and somehow looks just a gorgeous in the morning as she’s getting out of the cab and boldly walking to her door, no shame, no guilt.  She’s a little bit tough, but unmistakably female.

The award-winning Russian designer is a master of prints, and this season’s midnight-blue-and-grey was beautiful, and almost haunting.  It was used in dresses that varied in style from shirt to bare-shouldered to draped, and each had a special touch: a slit here, a ruffle there.

Not surprisingly, leather, too, was a big feature in the collection.  Black leather, of course.  One ruched jacket was so unusual, fitted yet slouchy.  Leather dresses were embellished with asymmetrical zips.

At the end of the runway were a series of evening dresses, some with her original blue and grey pattern, that were wispy and probably the most strictly feminine pieces of the collection.  But she never lost her edge.  I hope she never does.

Photography: Anton Brookes