A visit to the Jazz Age with Copenhagen’s hottest designer
Paris Fashion Week was a whirlwind of designer confections but one of our resounding memories and favourite moments from the week was meeting one of our much-loved young designers. We’ve admired YDE’s gorgeous collections for a few seasons now so imagine our delight when we were invited backstage to get a behind the scenes look at the AW14 collection and have a chat with the designer himself.
With a level of sophistication far beyond his years, YDE has quickly developed into a prominent designer, catching the eye of the chambre syndicale de la mode (the Parisian equivalent of the British Fashion Council) and landing a spot on the prestigious Paris Fashion Week schedule. A few days before his official PFW debut, the Your Coffee Break fashion team were lucky enough to visit the designer’s showroom in Paris and see the beautiful collection up close. As we walked through a wide oak door on the Rue di Rivoli, up a commanding staircase and through to a beautiful room, we knew we were in for something special. Not to be outdone by the opulent surroundings, Ole personally took us through the collection, explaining the inspiration behind each design. The labels home in Copenhagen is one of the world’s centres of jazz and for AW14, Ole took the theme of the Jazz Age, naming the collection “Lady Day” after the musical legend Billie Holiday. Evoking all the glamour and lavishness of the era, the amazing Ella Fitzgerald, who ones lived in Copenhagen, would be very approving of this collection!
What strikes us most about the collection was the extraordinary craftsmanship, reminiscent of a golden era Parisian atelier. We loved the textural architecture, lace bonded over neoprene, quilted blacks on sparkling crepe, soft silks and plush velvet. The use of intricate pleating was divine and we take our eyes off a particularly beautiful sequin dress with a beautiful green iridescent sheen. It’s this attention to detail that sets Ole Yde apart from other young designers; his garments boasting the handiwork of a seasoned pro. His perfectly rendered collection has cemented us as resolute fans and it seems we are not in the minority here, having been featured in Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, British and American Vogue. The house has also won armfuls of awards for his designs.
At his Atelier in Copenhagen, Ole is often found overseeing fittings and speaking to customers. He is an incredibly hands on designer and it is a great opportunity for his adoring customers to have one on one time with the designer. Not content with mastering just ready to wear, YDE also made a debut into jewellery design this season. Designed by Ole and handmade by esteemed French jeweller Gripoix, the collection is made up of beautiful statement pieces that aren’t too outlandish. The scarab beetle necklaces add a hint of playfulness to the seriously chic collection and have us lusting for one for our own jewellery boxes.
Here are a few of our favourite looks:
It’s not hard to already start planning our Autumn wardrobes when we see coats like this. The fur capes are unbelievably chic.
This piece is layers galore, mixing textures and lengths add so much to a look. It’s so refreshing to see a debut collection using this technique so masterfully. Also, a little flash of décolletage is so on trend right now.
Seeing the pieces a few days later on the catwalk was a delight in itself and we can’t wait to see what YDE has in store for SS15. Keep him on your radars ladies, we predict this one will go far.
