When you have K-Pop superstar Rain sitting front row, K-drama actor Sung Hoon and K-model Shin-woo on the runway, your clothes better be strong enough to drag celebrity-starred eyes from the front row to the catwalk.
As the headline opening show for Fide Fashion Weeks' Singapore Fashion Week 2013, the German-Korean brand MCM had a big task ahead of it on October 11, but with the sound system pumping out the tracks from a top Korean DJ the brand opened the event with a bang.
For its Spring Summer 2014 collection of ready-to-wear men's and women's wear, cult accessories brand MCM sent out a cohesive range of separates in jewel bright tones accessorised with what it does best - so-bling-they-are-beautiful backpacks, tote bags and oversized clutches.
Luckily for the brand, its latest collection was much stronger than it's previous offerings and did the job of dragging eyes from superstars to the clothes.
Most successful, still, is the menswear. The ratio of male to female looks clearly shows that MCM is still stronger in creating looks for the boys; its beautifully fitted print jackets with wide-piped seams in contrast colours were among the most successful looks in the collection; and were the best-translated into a women's version.
Click here to view pictures of MCM boutique opening and fashion gala
A series of slightly oversized blazers in "print blocking" - think bands of flower prints broken up with swatches of plain colour - looked great on the guys, given that they have the height and breadth to carry it, but appeared to swamp the wearer of the women's version; perhaps a reduction in width would balance out better and be more wearable. There were also a few too many variations; a bit of editing might have helped.
Some of the pieces looked very "street", there were lots of shorts, over-sized tees, logo sweatshirts; and when worn all together with a backpack and sneakers, the look was very sporty and very young.
A vaguely "bondage" look of buckled straps running around the legs of trousers seemed sporty in longer versions but looked very uncomfortable and unnecessary when added to shorts; but the leather jackets worn with these were great. The inset of bright print into white leather added a fresh take on the traditional motorcycle jacket.
As would be expected of a brand that's known for its accessories and bags, these pieces for Spring Summer 2014 really did stand out. The now signature oversized backpacks in "space boy" chrome and gold were over-the-top bling, but in a good way. The matching tote bags are large enough to carry everything you could ever need in a day, and more; and the large envelope clutches in the same shinning leathers were also fabulous.
The "Funky Zebra" collection of black and white striped backpacks, cross-body bags and a boston shoulder bag comes studded with MCM's traditional hardware and are fun but not too crazy if you don't want to scream your style.
Click here to view pictures of MCM boutique opening and fashion gala
More conservative is the new Keana collection of shrunken lambskin bags in strong colours but more refined shapes; and for something that looks almost non-MCM, the Elda Saffiano collection of practically lady-like bags is super structured in soft pastels and neutral shades.
MCM has done a lot in the last few years to turn its quality construction but lackluster design into an accessories brand that's become a cult favourite with celebrities around the world - Justin Beiber, Big Bang's G-Dragon, Rain, plus many more stars are all fans of the brand.
With its ready-to-wear collections having been still somewhat of a work in progress, the Flower Boys in Paradise Spring Summer 2014 range is a mighty leap forward in defining what MCM's design principles will be.
MCM is fun, sporty, a little futuristic, but grounded in quality construction and luxurious materials. Yes, there's a strong K-Pop aesthetic, but there's also signs of an underlying elegance of classic cut shapes and well-structured tailoring; the future is a bit bling, but very bright.
MCM now has a stand-alone boutique located at Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Tower 3, Level 1. For more information about MCM, go to www.mcmworldwide.com. Follow the brand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MCMWorldwide; on Twitter at @MCMTweets and on Instagram at @mcmworldwide. Singapore Fashion Week 2013 runs at Marina Bay Sands until October 19, 2013. For more information on Fashion Week 2013 and schedule of shows, go to www.fidefashionweeks.com. You can get your tickets at entertainment.marinabaysands.com/fashion-week-2013.
Photos: FIDe Fashion Weeks, ST
Click here to view pictures of MCM boutique opening and fashion gala
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