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All posts in Fashion Equations

A mathematical guide to the key inspirations and references in designers' collections by Laura Bradley, illustrated by Tom Baxter

  • Louis Vuitton S/S12

    Fashion Equations | Louis Vuitton Menswear S/S12

    For our inaugural menswear fashion equation, we focus on Kim Jones' debut collection for Louis Vuitton. Jones took his inspiration from heroic artist Peter Beard, the traditional dress of the Masai people and a shooting stick...

  • Jil Sander A/W11

    Fashion Equations | Jil Sander Womenswear A/W11

    In the run-up to his A/W11 Jil Sander collection, Raf Simons spent time considering skiing on the slopes in haute couture, Diane Arbus' black and white photographs and the luxurious, modernist furniture designs of Jacques Adnet...

  • Dries Van Noten A/W11

    Fashion Equations | Dries Van Noten A/W11 Womenswear

    Mix David Bowie and The Ballets Russes with Japanese bonsai and you get Dries Van Noten's 55-look collection for autumn/winter 2011...

  • Viktor & Rolf A/W11

    Fashion Equations | Viktor & Rolf A/W11 Womenswear

    As well as their cited influence of medieval symbolism, Viktor & Rolf's autumn/winter 2011 collection brought to mind some unexpected references: the uakari, an endangered red-bald-headed monkey and the traditional Japanese art of origami.

  • Boy + Caspar David Friedrich's landscapes + Count Dracula = Chanel A/W11

    Fashion Equations | Chanel Womenswear A/W11

    Whilst designers are currently revealing their designs for the spring/summer 2012 season, for one last time let's consider the influences and inspirations for the autumn/winter 2011 collections. Now comes the turn of Chanel A/W11, which...

  • Balenciaga A/W11

    Fashion Equations | Balenciaga Womenswear A/W11

    Nicolas Ghesquière cited a magnifying glass when discussing his design approach backstage at his A/W11 show for Balenciaga, but the 35-look collection also brought to mind fishing nets and humbug sweets...

  • Paul Smith A/W11

    Fashion Equations | Paul Smith A/W11 Womenswear

    This season, Paul Smith's womenswear collection made reference to musician and visual artist Patti Smith, the late British sculptor and artist Henry Moore and roses...

  • Alexander McQueen A/W11

    Fashion Equations | Alexander McQueen A/W11 Womenswear

    Alexander "Lee" McQueen was one of those designers whom Fashion Equations were made for. Spray cans, flies, piles of rubbish, dance marathons, Scottish blankets, flowers and snakes – his back catalogue provides an endless list of...

  • Burberry Prorsum A/W11

    Fashion Equations | Burberry Prorsum A/W11 Womenswear

    Examine Christopher Bailey's autumn/winter 2011 Burberry Prorsum collection and you get British supermodel of the Swinging Sixties, a cow and a carabiner used for climbing.

  • Yves Saint Laurent Cruise 2012

    Fashion Equations | Yves Saint Laurent Cruise 2012 Womenswear

    It's harder to find interesting references in the collections, but Stefano Pilati's cruise 2012 collection for Yves Saint Laurent, shown last week in New York, presented an interesting mix – anchors, the poppy and stars – all of which have...

  • Prada A/W11

    Fashion Equations | Prada A/W11 Womenswear

    For autumn/winter 2011, Miuccia Prada's collection brought to mind the wardrobe of noted American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, gorillas and the swinging sixities.

  • Louis Vuitton A/W11

    Fashion Equations | Louis Vuitton A/W11 Womenswear

    Louis Vuitton's autumn/winter 2011 press release opened with a dictionary definition of the word 'fetish': an object believed to have magical power, or, something to which one is irrationally devoted. The collection referenced The Night...