You came to the right place for your one-of-a-kind fashion coverage because Opening Ceremony is giving you an all-access pass to London Collections Men Autumn/Winter 2016. In typical OC fashion, we’re doing things a little differently—with just the show essentials and backstage highlights. Here, a look at Wales Bonner Autumn/Winter, where the brand's designer looked to the rhythmic vibrations of spirituals and the cosmic pioneers of the ‘70s for inspiration.
Want more from London Collections Men? Stay up-to-the-minute on the Autumn/Winter 2016 shows here and make sure to follow our Instagram and Twitter accounts for more live coverage.
Shop all Wales Bonner here
For her Autumn/Winter 2016 collection, titled “Spirituals,” London-based designer Grace Wales Bonner offered a meditation on black spirituality in the form of flared velvet pants, bedazzled tracksuits, and feminized silhouettes. Inspired by the rhythmic vibrations of spirituals, the choral harmonies sung by African slaves, this season’s Wales Bonner collection is as historically influenced and socially reflective as her previous efforts. The rhythmic vibrations that gave soulful hope during the times of darkness and carried through to the cosmic grooves of the funk and Afrofuturist movements, transcended onto the collection.
For the London Collections Men show, models of all ethnicities walked the runway, which more closely resembled a luxe trip in Bonner’s time machine back to the ‘70s. Sporting shaggy ‘dos or a James Brown-esque coif, the models donned clothing that appeared to come straight out of Sly Stone’s closet. Standout looks were accessorized with Swarovski-crystallized headpieces and crocheted floppy sun hats that Sun Ra would surely appreciate and cowrie shell-bedecked chokers that added an element of shiny decadence to each look.
To carry on the mood and theme of the history of spirituals and the inspiring vibrations of the clothing in the collection, Nigerian-Irish composer Tunde Jegede provided the musical accompaniment for the show, playing a West African 21 string harp. For Wales Bonner Autumn/Winter 2016, spiritual music and flowing clothing combine in perfect harmony.
Want more from London Collections Men? Stay up-to-the-minute on the Autumn/Winter 2016 shows here and make sure to follow our Instagram and Twitter accounts for more live coverage.
Shop all Wales Bonner here
For her Autumn/Winter 2016 collection, titled “Spirituals,” London-based designer Grace Wales Bonner offered a meditation on black spirituality in the form of flared velvet pants, bedazzled tracksuits, and feminized silhouettes. Inspired by the rhythmic vibrations of spirituals, the choral harmonies sung by African slaves, this season’s Wales Bonner collection is as historically influenced and socially reflective as her previous efforts. The rhythmic vibrations that gave soulful hope during the times of darkness and carried through to the cosmic grooves of the funk and Afrofuturist movements, transcended onto the collection.
For the London Collections Men show, models of all ethnicities walked the runway, which more closely resembled a luxe trip in Bonner’s time machine back to the ‘70s. Sporting shaggy ‘dos or a James Brown-esque coif, the models donned clothing that appeared to come straight out of Sly Stone’s closet. Standout looks were accessorized with Swarovski-crystallized headpieces and crocheted floppy sun hats that Sun Ra would surely appreciate and cowrie shell-bedecked chokers that added an element of shiny decadence to each look.
To carry on the mood and theme of the history of spirituals and the inspiring vibrations of the clothing in the collection, Nigerian-Irish composer Tunde Jegede provided the musical accompaniment for the show, playing a West African 21 string harp. For Wales Bonner Autumn/Winter 2016, spiritual music and flowing clothing combine in perfect harmony.