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Preen: Edwardian Gothic
By Sasha Wilkins
Photos by Gruber-FWD
London, Sep 21, 2001/ FWD/ --- Preen has attracted a cult following for its trademark
distressed Edwardian style, and yet again its designers showed a collection which relied
heavily on their signature details.
Puffed sleeves, ripped detailing, buttons used as decorations, and drainpipe trousers were
all there.
Last season Preen's designers, Justin Thornton and Thea Bragazzi, had their moment.
Everyone else finally caught up with their taste for romantic, slightly gothic clothing,
but while the prevailing mood has moved on to a prettier, lighter aesthetic for next season,
Preen, through no fault of their own, looked slightly dated.
With the pieces shown mostly in an unprepossessing, sludgy beige color, the show did little
to uplift the spirits, although that may have had something to do with the Morrissey
soundtrack and the miserable looking models.
Still, there were looks that worked brilliantly.
Ruching details across the arms and backs made slinky
jersey dresses covetable, and a forest green straight skirt with a shirred back was clever
and commercially sound.
Forget the ruched knickerboxers and go with their well-cut skinny pants with yet more
ruching around the ankles.
However, there is a good reason why leggings went out of favor - they are hideously unflattering,
and the ones Preen showed did nothing to dispel that notion.
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