Michiko Koshino SS13

Michiko hosted her SS13 launch party last week in her own spacious Queens Park London studio. Originally a shop, the studio was now stripped back to bare brick walls and more interestingly open steel floor grating on the top floor, creating the right atmosphere for her modern utilitarian collection.

Models wearing the collection mingled with the guests but most of the pieces were displayed on one long rail suspended in the middle of the top floor. For closer inspection you had to traverse the open grated floor to reach the rail, not so good for stilettos or for vertigo and acrophobia sufferers.  However it gave a sense of openness and a great bird’s eye view of downstairs.  And with a glass of champagne in hand to give me courage it wasn’t as scary.

The colour palette is of muted and neutral shades: khaki, beige, grey, black and white, with Michiko putting emphasis on the cut and style. This is urban street wear where the feminine figure is not forgotten as blouses and jackets cinch in to the waist for a flattering shape.

Embellishments are of the Military style with ribbon medal brooches adorning shirts and shorts.

The print used is an array of uneven faded spots as though the child’s potato paint method was applied.

Key pieces that stood out for me were:

Gossamer layered white blouse – shorter at the back slide and cinched in at the waist, draped longer and the front and fastened with one garter clip. Worn with grey skinny jeans in the faded spot print

Double zipped biker style jacket - the sleeves unzipped to allow you to change them in to elbow length by buttoning on to the shoulder.

Marl grey jersey dress – simple t shirt style with a little ruche to flatter the curves.

For more information visit www.michikokoshino.co.uk

By Karen Grace

Personal Shopper & Image Consultant for Frumpy to Funky http://www.frumpytofunky.com