CHARLIE MAY | FALL / WINTER 2012

Charlie May has released her second collection, showcasing her signature minimalist style and androgynous look. Whilst studying Fashion Design at University of West England, May was working within the fashion industry creating her own blog, ‘Girl a la Mode’, and assisting Louise Goldin’s Spring / Summer 10 collection.

On graduation she worked alongside Thomas Tait for two years before creating her own label. Simple, elegant and extraordinarily chic, May expertly mixes textures in order to juxtapose the hard and the soft. Crisp cotton and light silk, tough leather and luxurious suede, are all matched to create androgynous looks that are strong yet subtle, and feature feminine elements to ensure the perfect balance.

For Fall / Winter 2012 rich jewel tones were added to the otherwise monochromatic palette; ruby, oxblood and sapphire were fashioned into full length gowns and blazers and added individuality to darker pieces. The menswear inspired cuts show her tailoring ability, while feminine detailing and subtle peeks of skin created an alluring, non-traditional sexuality.

Entitled ‘The Question of Believing’, the AW12 short film showcasing the collection reflected May’s inspirations: “I wanted to push the sumptuous deep colours in the collection, and create a sinister twist; The Question of Believing combines the ideology of belief and the question of reality. I was in love with the location we shot in, Asylum, which was an abandoned chapel that had been bomber in WW2.”

The Charlie May woman is comfortable and confident in herself; she loves to wear beautifully made garments with a design edge and minimal aesthetic.

Charlie wished to create something very different from Spring / Summer 2012, opting for silk and wool in dark sumptuous colours. Ensuring originality and individuality all silks were custom hand-dyed, alongside sustainable and renewable fabrics.

- Charlotte Stamp