ALEXIS BARRELL'S SS14 COLLECTION: THE HOT NEW DESIGNER TO LOOK OUT FOR

Alexis Barrell was born in South Africa, where she was heavily surrounded by nature. She observed birds and plants, and now has bought her experiences over with her to London, where she currently lives.

Each collection is a story from a different journey and the SS14 collection is extremely exciting, drawing inspiration from the American surf culture, with a twist on Hawaiian shirts and 60's swim shorts. She took a trip to California to get inspiration for this collection and everything about the show, from the blue/green background to the catwalk filled with water, helped us envision a day on a beach in Malibu. Alexis herself drove down the Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible to fully capture the essence of California life.

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Held at Saint Martin's Lane Hotel in an intimate setting as usual, the models graced the water-based catwalk looking flawless. Because of the location, it's a great opportunity to see the pieces close up and really look at the clothes. The show entitled 'True Romance'

Vintage custom surfboard detailing is also evident, but Alexis looks at previous collections to draw similarities, such as her signature silks and heavy creeps. This means when you wear the pieces, they feel as relaxed as beachwear but have a sophisticated edge to them.

The make-up was minimal, helping us to imagine being at Venice Beach with only a natural tan providing us with colour. Slight touches of bronze and highlighter were used, and wet hair on the models helped create the feel of 'surfer chic'.

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Sharp cuts and slim lines featured leather hoodies, oversized silk neon tee's and men's shirts also bought forward the feel of 90's surf culture. When creating printed chiffon peasant dresses and crop tops, Alexis drew inspiration from the 60's, revisiting the San Francisco Bay Area to create this Alexis didn't forget elegant evening wear, as she used silk and neoprene to create stylish, sleek attire. To finish these, she added a heavy wetsuit zipper down the back, staying true to the theme of the collection. This added feature also helped to give the pieces a sexy vibe, ensuring all of the evening wear was sophisticated but still California inspired.

(Via Fashion156)