Catwalk Report: Basso & Brooke

By Carla Bevan. Photograph by Mitchell Sams on Tuesday 18 September 2007

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Basso & Brooke SS08

BASSO & BROOKE WOKE up the front rows yesterday with a rip-roaring collection of feel-good prints and fabulous accessories.

Showing away from the Natural History Museum tents, in a tucked-away corner of Shepherd's Bush, the former winners of Fashion Fringe made us shiver in the cold for a good hour before kicking off proceedings, but the clothes were worth the wait.

Drawing inspiration from as disparate visions as Shangri-la, Babylon, Elysium and Xanadu, the collection - named in honour of Shakespeare's The Tempest - was built around two different print groups. The first, 'Soma', so the show notes informed us, apparently took its name from the pills in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, which were used to create the perfect, artificial society. All you need to know: the geometric, pastel-coloured shapes created the perfect canvas for a string of jaunty outfits, all accessoried with amazing oversized bags and patent clutches, print-embellished heels and Stephen Jones-designed hats.

The second print group, 'Canvas', was less regimented, with a dreamy watercolour feel. The clothes too became more languid, moving on from sporty daywear to sexy little cocktail frocks and long evening dresses. Here the body was queen, with - shock, horror - curves celebrated and cleavages on display. Simply fabulous!