LFW - Mod Sexy Secretaries at Orla Kiely A/W 2013

I am struggling to find the words to describe how wonderfully amazing the Orla Kiely A/W 2013 presentation was... In short, it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I arrived and walked up some very steep, scary stairs (in dangerously high platform shoes!) to a space decorated with vintage 60's office paraphernalia and found the space presented as a typing pool straight out of the Mad Men era. Shortly after I arrived, gorgeous models with messy bouffants decorated with little barrettes started to parade into the area as though they were arriving for work. Dressed in 60's inspired fashions, t-strap shoes with chunky heels and brightly colored coats, they sauntered in with their ladylike handbags to start their shifts. Each girl hung up her coat, made her way to the filing cabinet to grab a brief and ended up at a desk typing away while a narrative appeared on a giant screen overhead to a soundtrack of typing. It was all choreographed beautifully.

As for the collection, I loved it! I've long sited the 60's as my favorite decade for fashion - it was such a fun, whimsical, glamorous time for womenswear and beauty. A-line dresses, cardigans, full skirts, collars and suiting looks are classic styles that always look amazing, no matter what current trends are all the rage. Prints, textures & brocades, color blocking, bright coats and  knits played hefty roles in the collection with a color palette consisting mostly of red, black, grey, navy, yellow and various shades of pink. Intricate collars from extremely pointy to round and ruffled were a lovely touch and gave vintage-inspired looks a more modern feel. Ladylike, fun and effortlessly chic, the entire Orla Kiely collection for A/W 2013 is a winner!