LFW S/S’15: Busardi – Air

Following the success of Busardi’s London Fashion Week debut last season, the red carpet prêt-à- couture label took over a Georgian mansion in Mayfair to set the tone for its highly anticipated  runway collection ‘Air’. Inspired by the incredibly diverse landscapes and micro environments of South America, the Spring/Summer 2015 collection takes us on a journey with an archetypal Busardi woman, strong and beautiful as she soars through the glacier-hewn fields of Patagonia, past the  smoking plunge pools of the Iguazu Falls and into the golden pink sand deserts of Argentina.

Honing in on the ethereal beauty that the brand is renowned for, a splendour of exquisitely crafted  gowns play with layering and transparency to create new codes of modern femininity. Pulling on a  rich tapestry of references, models are personified into resplendent eagles covered in an armour of  accessories: ear cuffs, bracelets and necklaces moulded in solid silver and covered with crystals and  pearls – challenging the traditional notions of eveningwear. The attachment of soft ostrich feathers on cocktail dresses, evening gowns and jackets nods to exquisite birds in flight, while lace-formed  adornments command a serene glacial allusion. Layered with more philosophical implications, the collection sees the element of oxygen take centre  stage – air sustains all life but the power of air can freeze great swathes of water and waterfalls into  icebergs.

Billowing silhouettes glided down the catwalk, while more structured pieces were adorned with feathers that gently floated through the air as the models drifted down the runway. The entire collection of luxurious gowns and dresses had a carefree, laissez-faire mood, enhanced by Busardi’s signature use of embroidery, lace and appliqué. Not comprising on luxe detailing, a profusion of floating hemlines and floor skimming skirts maintained the red carpet grandeur.

However, nothing encapsulated the mood quite like the finale  piece – a queen of the birds, adorned with hundreds of grey ostrich feathers layered around the shoulders of a trademark cape. Heavily encrusted ear cuffs framed the model’s face, while delicate hand-embroidered appliqué finely decorated the waist of a silk dress; her silver tulle skirt trailed the  runway, mirroring the tail of a great bird as she soared through the Patagonian air.

Avery Parker
Photos: Yannis Vlamos

To find out more about Busardi visit the website here.