To many rational, non-fashion obsessed people the idea of showing collections six months before they hit the shops may seem bizarre and even a little annoying. Surely by the time February comes around the last thing anyone wants to see is more bloody winter clothes..? As you probably already know, Spring/Summer collections could not possibly be exhibited during Feburary Fashion Week for various boring sales/production-related reasons. But beyond the logistics of getting a collection off the runway and into the shops (and hopefully our wardrobes), the fact that the designer goodies we see on the catwalks don’t become seasonally relevant for quite some time is something I have grown to appreciate. There are few things more delicious than the initial excitement of falling in love with a collection when you first catch a glimpse of it at fashion week. That is except for reliving said thrill six months later when you get to rediscover those fabulous frocks all over again! In the spirit of relishing the many sartorial delights designers unleashed on the fashion world last September and of course, making the most of any half-decent weather, I have been re-reading the SS11 runway edits in search of a little new-season-shopping inspiration. Most of  the designers I’ve featured in my “SS11 Fashion Inspiration” posts so far are those with whom I’ve had a long-running (almost a decade in Burberry’s case) obsession. But whilst obviously I’ve always been aware of the talent and success of Holly Fulton, it’s only this year that I have truly realised quite how desirable her designs are.

Holly Fulton SS11

First off, Holly’s CV boasts some pretty impressive credentials. After graduating from The Royal College of Art back in 2007 and making her Fashion Week debut just two years later, the talented scot went straight on to scoop up the Swarovski Emerging Talent Award for Accessories at the British Fashion Awards. Since then, Holly has simply gone from strength to strength with her unique designs earning her the much-coveted New Generation sponsorship for the past two seasons.

Holly Fulton SS11

I fell head-over-heels in love with Holly’s SS11 collection pretty much the second I laid eyes on it. The young designer is renowned for her masterful use of mixed materials, ornate embellishment, statement jewellery and bold colour combinations and this season showcased her skills to perfection. From graphic print silk palazzo pants to thatincredible canary yellow PVC dress, Holly’s summer offerings simply oozed retro glamour. Think high fashion meets high summer to create a holiday wardobe worth living off pot noodles for at least six months to afford.

Holly Fulton SS11

The time, effort and attention to detail that this designer puts into her work is second to none. See the intricate cut-outs in said infamous yellow dress? Holly did every single one of them herself by hand and whilst this can’t have been a barrel of laughs, the painstaking process most certainly paid off as the results are simply spectacular.

Holly Fulton SS11

As Holly herself explains, “the ethos of my work is to capture a couture finish and an attention to detail within ready-to-wear” yet somehow she manages to achieve this whilst still producing some of the most deliciously light-hearted collections around. In vivid hues, vibrant prints and complimented with “look-at-me” accessories, Holly Fulton’s SS11 collection definitely tops my wish list. Despite the couture-worthy finish of each piece, there’s a girly, fun-loving quality to them which would ensure you stay stylish regardless of how many Mojito’s you consume.

Love Ella. X