Moon Lake Serenade

Ryan Lo London Fashion Week AW19

Ryan Lo’s “Moon Lake Serenade!” at the Dutch Hall is what dreams are made of. Retro kawaii has never been quite celebrated in this manner in recent London Fashion Week history. The main character of Lo’s AW19 collection is Lady Oscar from the Japanese manga, Rose of Versailles. Her wardrobe of dreamy pastels in fantasy materials makes any girl, fiction or not envious of her. Lo’s focus in the joy of unadulterated beauty is well presented in his story.

The show starts with a somber tone with a couple in black, the man dressed in a military-esque uniform and the woman in a black embossed coat. They are pushing a black retro pram filled with black roses. A group of ruffled and feather embellished black dresses in tea and knee lengths continued the dramatic scene. Then suddenly the tone shifts as white and pinks made their way into the story giving it a feeling reminiscent of a daydream. A white semi translucent lace up bodice dress that would make Rapunzel jealous waltzed through the church hall. Next, the signature staple of Lo’s this season, mohair knit, made its first appearance as a pom pommed sweater vest paired with an equally fanciful flouncy embossed skirt. Pink made an entrance with a full length quilted evening coat with a scalloped hem. The show continued with a dreamy light blue metallic lace gown, puffed sleeves and bell cuffed with a tier of ruffles at the hem. The signature mohair crochet makes appearances throughout the collection in the form of dresses, capes and even collars. Ending the show is an extravagant frothy pink tulle gown that was perfectly paired with an exaggerated bearskin hat by collaborator, Stephen Jones.

Pastel colors in lavish pinks and icy blues redefines what Autumn/Winter looks like. The whimsical pieces are essentially upscaled Harajuku style. Even more wearable are the luxe plush lurex sweatpants and hoodies. The long flowing ribbons, lace and feathers are speaking to the unapologetically feminine side to all of us. In Ryan Lo’s “Moon Lake Serenade!” I was allowed to live in a fantasy. To have this fantasy brought to life in these pieces is an absolute dream.