Exuberant and infamous designer Harris Reed concluded the first day of London Fashionweek’s S/S23 schedule with an intimate debutante ball combining draping and drama in all the right places.
Entitled Mise En Scène, the collection explored performative dressing centred around community, collaboration and all the incredible individuals that it takes to create safe spaces for everyone to feel their most authentic selves. Signature 10-foot wide halo head-pieces were of course in full effect in bold pops of pink, gold and arctic blue alongside pieces created from deadstock sequins, velvet and technical organza. Among the twelve ornate looks featuring dome hats, flared trousers and mermaid gowns, sat a dress entitled the Zendaya, a dress destined for stardom in shimmering arctic blue with a naturally overly dramatic silhouette.
Closing Reed’s powerful show, a model bride in the form of the exquisite Lily McMenamy in a ballet-style gown in corseted satin with a thin tulle train, a wired tutu skirt and a fanned headpiece. Carrying a bouquet of ‘Lily of the Valley’ as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II as Queen frontman Adam Lambert performed ‘Who Wants To Live Forever.
Chills much. It was beautiful, it was sombre, it was correct. Harris Reed gave us a debutante ball to remember. Long may he reign.
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Words by Lewis Robert Cameron
Photography: Marc Hibbert
Music: Adam Lambert
Beauty: Make-Up Look designed by Sofia Tilbury using Charlotte Tilbury Beauty & Skincare
Hair: Ali Pirzadeh @ CLM assisted by Tommy Stayton
Nails: Simone Cummings @ CLM
Styling: Harry Lambert @ Bryant
Casting: Nachum Shonn @ Bryant
Movement Direction: Simon Donnellon
Production: FAMILY
Footwear: Custom Jimmy Choo Govi Boots
Millinery: Harris Reed in collaboration with Vivienne Lake
Jewellery: Harris Reed X Missoma
