Omar Mansoor returned to the London Fashion Week Fashion International show (Amba Hotel Charing Cross), on day two (19 September 2015) with his 10th collection IMPERIAL ROMANCE featuring couture gowns inspired by the Russian Imperial Style.
With inspiration drawn from the peace post revolution, OMAR MANSOOR delivered an absolute gem of a collection for Spring/Summer 2016.
He took a subtle approach to his collection, via a palette of white and ivory, depicting three themes – the pre-revolution Tsarist autocracy, featuring Faberge imperial egg-inspired motifs, the rise of the revolution – communicated with military insignia and caps, and the end of revolution peace, indicated by the white and gold silk flower embellishment.
OMAR MANSOOR understands the kind of women he’s designing for.
His collection clung to the purity of form, ultimately focusing on basics with exquisitely fitted military jackets breaking up the sobriety.
OMAR MANSOOR worked the minimalist mood that’s making itself felt now; pared down and simple, but not to the point of severity, injecting his collection with just enough of a hip, young edge.
It showed in the mix of slight-shouldered jackets edged with tapework, worn over a lace dress or a silhouette-inspired evening gown; and in the judicious use of Faberge egg-inspired ornamentation.
Sharp-lapels, sandwiched white Lycra-blended lace and waist-defining jumpsuits showed a command of elegance gleaned from his lifelong obsession with couture classics.
OMAR MANSOOR has taken a look at the streets of modern Moscow and come up with a creative fusion of garments that address the twenty-first century in an imaginatively practical way.
Effortlessly constructed, various pieces seemed as though they had been blown by some zephyr onto the body, with savvy tailoring combined with turn-of-the-century militaria and revolutionary caps.
OMAR MANSOOR has a natural ability to marry sexy with just the right touch of sweet, with well-cut pantsuits, decorative paillette cocktail dresses trussed up with military details, appliques and flattering three-quarter sleeves.
The collection featured exceptionally beautiful white lace dresses, virginal without being revoltingly cute and pantsuits with wide flares draping just below the knee, sliced and folded to reveal more than they hid.
OMAR MANSOOR belongs to a superelite of fashion frontrunners who are leaving most other collections in the distance, a designer who can show fashion a good time, and you can’t help applauding that…
Omar Mansoor talks about his collection…
“In Russian history, the fashion revolutions always coincided with the greatest political changes; from Peter the Great to the Revolution of 1917 to Gorbachev’s Perestroika. The Revolution of 1917 made the Russian fashion adjust to the new Communist norms, which condemned everything ‘bourgeois’ and extraordinary. With the turn of the 20th century, the traditional Muscovy Rus style of heavy fabrics, elaborate gold and precious stone embroideries and female half-moon-shaped headwear kokoshniks made its comeback and won over Europe with Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. I engage these elements in my collection in a way that it attracts masses appeal. The primary colour is off-white, depicting post-revolution peace. The diffusion line includes both knee and full-length dresses and jumpsuits constructed using a range of fabrics from silk jersey, crepes to sheer nets, blended with Lycra, using insignias from pre-revolution social fabrics.”
Omar Mansoor is a London-based fashion designer, best known for his couture occasion wear. He dresses British actresses and International royalty and European aristocracy; Omar Mansoor is widely credited with re-introducing the fusion clothing into modern fashion. After attending London College of Fashion one of the prestigious Schools in UK, Omar was the first Pakistani to showcase at London Fashion Week in 2008, OM made its appearance at Royal Ascot, Bahrain Fashion Week and Top Model UK. Susanna Reid wore Omar Mansoor at the 2010 Academy Awards. The brand has been worn by a number of actresses on the red carpet including Miss United Kingdom Amy Guy.
www.omarmansoor.com
Images: Shane Finn (Visual Devotion)