MARY KATRANTZOU // Designer

 

After I saw Anna Dello Russo wearing this amazing piece of art last week, I was so impressed by the originality of her outfit that I immediately wanted to know more about the designer behind it.   

Designer name: Mary Katrantzou

INTERVIEW 

What are your design signatures?

“A hyperrealist aesthetic, bold graphics and industrial jewellery.”

How would you describe the Mary Katrantzou woman?

“She has a liberated spirit and a strong sense of style.”

What is your trademark piece?

“For spring/summer 2011 it was the lampshade skirt.”

How does London influence your designs?

“It's a constant source of energy and inspiration to live and work in London. It has a reputation for great fashion, influential museums and strong education. That all becomes part of your formation.”

"For spring summer 2011, Mary Katrantzou has conjured up another intelligent and beguiling collection of energetic prints on beautifully structured pieces - entitled “ceci n'est pas une chambre” (this is not a room).  The collection takes its cue from the surrealist world of René Magritte, as Mary further explores her now classic hypper-real vision, inspired by art and design."

 "The central theme is that of rooms: charting her inspiration from the graphic interior sets of Guy Bourdin and Helmut Newton’s iconic fashion shoots, to the inner environments found in Architectural Digest, from the grandeur of the White House to the glamour of 70's east coast hotel rooms. Elements are taken from a series of rooms and spliced together literally, to create an entirely new space, depicted in clear geometric symmetry through a bustle of exuberant colour."

"Texture plays a key role this season: dresses are finished with extravagant raffia detailing, embellished with embroidery and intricate beading, whilst curtain imagery flows out into swathes of material falling from the hips, as she plays with the 3-D effect, distorting the blend of supposed reality with the surreal. The line includes increased amounts of separates: alongside intricately cut dresses and lampshade shaped skirts, there are sweet shorts, neat short-sleeved jackets, jacket dresses and delicate silk blouses."

"As ever colour is key, bursts of Bourdin-esque strong greens and reds to soft South Beach style pastels mixed in with fuchsia and cool blue tones, giving an effortless summer-vibe. Embellished by her signature statement jewellery, grand brass pieces shaped as sconce half-chandeliers finished with crystal pendants, Mary’s vision is complete."

CREDITS

Interview: London Fashion Week

Press Release Mary Katrantzou Spring Summer 2011