JW Anderson rises to the challenge

 
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'It's good to challenge' said JW Anderson, the man who created a craze for pyjamas pants and neoprene frill shorts. But what was challenging about his autumn winter 2014 show? Perhaps he was referring to the slashed and draped tops exposing acres of flesh, but nakedness has become something of an Anderson signature, weaving through his collections to date. Maybe the stiff paint-splattered vinyl was sent to challenge us. Again, we loved the first glimpse of this for spring. Could it be that whatever he shows us, he has us at Hello?

True, some shapes in this collection were pretty impossible to wear, and those plaited shoes will challenge 99.9% of the population. Even those who like 'ugly' shoes. But Anderson fans are instantly sold on whatever he offers without feeling remotely challenged. In a wildly unscientific poll, my Tweets from the front row received, ooohh, 20 times the retweets and favourites of a standard Tweet and from all four corners of the globe.

This collection was sublime in its fluidity. Architectural shapes draped with visionary fabrics. And we saw a first foray in to eveningwear proper by way of satin gowns. This was the Anderson way with a gown, young, modern but not so challenging for the vanguard. 

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