Dundas and Lela Rose: How is Lockdown Affecting Our Clothing?
The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically changed so many aspects of the way we live, that it’s hardly surprising that the world of fashion has also felt it’s impact. While cancelled shows and Moschino’s renowned SS21 puppet show may seem like the most obvious results, some Resort 2022 Ready-to-Wear collections are also showing quieter, more lasting effects.
The most notable shift in tone can be seen in the Dundas Ready-to-Wear. The collection, modelled on Stella Maxwell, was showcased photographically and echoes the need for quiet and space that many are finding themselves craving as we return to somewhat normal. The look book features clean white pant-suits and sleek black dresses that are a marked difference to the glitz of Dundas’s past seasons. Shot mainly through windows from a distance the collection seems quiet and home-bound; a reflection of our isolation and increased hours spent at home. There are, however, exceptions to this shift to clean lines and quieter colours. An unmissable silver jumpsuit and multi-chrome skirt being just two pieces that certainly aren’t home-based attire.
While Dundas’s traditional style has been mostly eschewed, Lela Rose’s resort collection feels more defiant in light of many headlines claiming that comfort clothes are the new norm. A dress designer, Lela Rose’s designs certainly imply that a return to normality means a return to fashion. While the label’s designs have never been exactly flamboyant, their more reserved style has refused to budge despite threats to public taste. With hints of the Western in earthy tones and floral patterns, the designs don’t have the cool, quiet, collected vibes that Dundas is showcasing, but something equally as comfortable, if not slightly more formal.
