Many of us remember our own attempts at ‘90s fashion with well-founded embarrassment. (The pencil-thin eyebrows! The fluorescent t-shirts!)
But designer Kacey Devlin looks upon the ‘90s – and specifically the minimalist aesthetic espoused by Helmut Lang and Calvin Klein, and worn to devastating effect by Kate Moss and Gwyneth Paltrow – as a key source of inspiration.
“The ‘90s was the era of minimalism, strength and the power of women,” enthuses Devlin. “It’s about flowy, seductive silks, loose silhouettes that just hang off the body – the kind of garments that make the body just slouch.
“Our whole aesthetic is about deconstructing the concept of a women’s uniform and finding ways to offer a new point of view for the modern woman through the use of imaginative technology,” she continues. “The cuts of my clothes are quite strong and conservative at the front, but the back is completely exposed – it’s redefining where the strength and sensuality of a woman comes from.”
It’s a design philosophy that has resonated deeply with a new generation of fashion lovers – partly thanks to the renewed interest in female empowerment (not to mention the current vogue for ‘90s fashion) – but also because of Dacey’s clever and unique approach to design.
Many of the designer’s garments rely on few, if any, fastenings – an imaginative and intellectual approach that means that many of her pieces can be worn in multiple ways. “If I’m ever in any of the stores that we’re stocked in, I love explaining to my customers how you can style each piece in so many ways, and you just see their eyes light up. That sense of versatility is where it all started from.”
Lexus is proud to support Prix de marie claire, and the Next Gen Award, which recognises and supports emerging fashion talent.
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