Favourite looks from Basil Soda AW14 collection at Paris Fashion Week
Basil Soda is a brand that has always been firmly fixed on our radar, with its unique architecture inspired design aesthetic. Just under 15 years strong now, the house has refined its ethos with the consistent juxtaposition between power and romance. Shown in Hotel Saint James in busy Paris, Basil Soda’s AW14 Ready-to-Wear collection not only reminded us of his creativity and talent, but also elevated his status in the industry, with the bold power play of sharp, clean lines in feminine silhouettes.
The beauty of the collection was Soda’s exploration of colour, featuring regal emerald green and rich purple, in both block colouring and smattered across digital prints. The striking hues featured strongly across the collection which was predominantly monochrome, but the sharp contrasts of black and white on such beautiful colours added a huge uplift for autumn dressing.
The collection was presented in a luxurious range of fabrics from satins and silks to leather, neoprene and appliquéd accents on sheer sleeves. This kind of attention to detail shows just how much Basil Soda and the brand have grown over the years. The refinement in the designs reflects the women who want to buy pieces from Soda’s collections, strong and powerful yet craving the romanticism of a silk blouse, a printed skirt or a sheer detail dress. Soda subtly added gowns into the collection in luxe prints and sleek silhouettes; our favourites were a dark printed bodice with split hem skirt and a standout printed silk column skirt, which we predict will hit the red carpet at the first available opportunity.
The architectural influence where Soda’s career really began is evident in the collection, with sharp edges, nipped in waists and structural skirts and crop tops with directional sleeves and necklines. On some pieces hemlines were asymmetric, introducing a play on length to divert attention away from a midi or a split; coats were short and belted for that sleek ‘I mean business’ look, yet finished in leather or with an extreme sleeve.
The beauty of the collection was never knowing what was coming up next. Soda’s notoriety for contrasting dark mystery with femininity did not go overlooked, yet with such a fresh take on Autumn / Winter, the collection could hardly be called ‘samey’. Our hot picks include the emerald satin maxi skirt and leather crop top, leather sleeved wool swing coat and bright white appliqué dress. We love!
