Topshop Unique blows me away season after season, and their Fall 2012 collection was certainly no exception. The name of the collection,"Utilitarian Nonchalance," describes this sumptuous collection perfectly. With military-inspired separates, restructured silhouettes and a daring blend of fabrics and colors, this collection came out as one of the strongest amongst it's competitors for this season. While Topshop Unique's Spring collection didn't satisfy my palate as much as I expected it to, the understated grunge of "Utilitarian Nonchalance" has reedemed itself and whisked my breath away.
The recurring cross (+) motif that was both obscured and obvious was a definite success in my opinion. It's not a pattern you see widely in the fashion world, and it lent an industrial, primitive twist to the sultry gloom of the collection. From kitschy, round-neck sweaters to steep v-necked shirts and jumpsuits, this motif resounded throughout the runway pieces and lightened up the military mood.
The variety of silhouettes in this collection is utterly magnificent. From spunky, daring minidresses to conservative-chic coats, there's something for absolutely everyone. I especially adore the way the waistlines are accentuated in this collection- particularly in the four images above. The first two depict examples of the drop-waist, a gorgeously androgynous feature that suits this military collection perfectly. The last two images of pants that are nipped in at the waist achieve a put-together silhouette (which is subsequently thrown off balance with a shapeless, masculine overcoat. Typical of Topshop, to say the least).
The opulent diversity of the minidresses in this collection is undoubtedly one of this collection's strengths. Although they didn't stick strictly to the "dress code" of military grunge, they certainly added flavour to the collection with their rich fabrics and textures. My favourites include the dress on the far right which looks like it's made up of tiny dried black petals, and the metallic sheath (second from the left) which has peekaboo strips across the chest.
Seeing as this is a Fall collection, heavy-duty outerwear and thick fabrics are pretty much guaranteed to appear at some stage in every collection. But forget fur-lined puffer-coats or pastel cardigans- Topshop Unique has broken into the boys' closet and stolen all their stuff. "Military Nonchalance" included a luxurious variety of all sorts of outerwear- from floor sweeping affairs to cropped, ragged numbers. Olive colored knits draped over fitted, modern dresses hit the spot for me, as did the luscious burgundy of an unbuttoned trench, topped with an eyebrow-grazing hat. Although I would've liked to see more detailed embellishments such as exposed zippers, rusty metal buttons and ragged edges, the hasty layering and too-cool attitude of the outfits were enough to have me head over heels.
What did you think of this collection?
