In collaboration with Fashion International and for his 9th season at London Fashion Week, couturier Omar Mansoor chose the majestic 5 star Royal Horseguards hotel as the opulent backdrop to complement and display his SS15 collection of gowns,
Choosing the exotic dancer and courtesan Mata Hari as his muse, Omar's collection is striking and show stopping in a bold colour palette of red, turquoise and light gold.
The turquoise depicts Mata Hari's early struggling part of life. Turquoise
controls and heals the emotions creating calm and stability, but along the way it can be a roller coaster ride until it balances itself. The turquoise gowns show a more youthful and simplistic style emulating Mata's unrestrained optimism and determination overcome any disappointments.
Light gold, the colour of luxury, triumph and success, represents her dazzling career in Paris where she became an overnight sensation and captivated her audiences with her provocative style and dance. Necklines are plunging with fitted bodices in vintage lace whilst the long silk skirts dance and softly billow as the models walk down the catwalk.
And lastly red, the colour of energy and sexual passion but also of danger and anger, communicates the end of her life's story. The styles are more varied from the structured lace gowns to the asymmetric greek goddess look depicting the complexity of her later life, juxtaposing her glamorous carefree life under the limelight with the serious trial and execution for being a German Spy during WW1.
Omar's stand out pieces were the first red gown to hit the catwalk which really emulated Mata Hari's exotic style...
.... And the finale turquoise gown decorated with hand appliqué known as Rilli, a traditional patchwork
art from Sindh, Pakistan. For the applique, Omar’s designs
were produced by Inaaya who commissioned
the work to the local artisans of rural Sindh.
Jewellery by
Amishi London
Photography
by Shahid Malik
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