Designer A-Z

Matthew Williamson

Spring/Summer 2013

By Alannah Sparks

Fifteen years of Matthew Williamson. Fifteen years of rainbow colours and exotic travels, of goddess gowns and exuberant prints. It's been a journey.

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And luckily Williamson has managed to hold on to all the holiday souvenirs he's picked up along the way: the intricate mirrored embellishments, the blue lagoon hues, Peruvian mountain tribe tassels and geometric Mayan patterns. They were all there today, a technicolor explosion of Williamson's trademark tools. He'd based the collection on the Holi festival in India - a raucous street party where revellers fling paints and powders at each other.

Williamson's girl is far too glossy to participate in such a thing, but she certainly looked the part in ombré knoted jumpers and draped silk party dresses. But Williamson knows his consumer has moved on from the glamorous bohemian look he made his own over the last decade. He's modernised by adding digital print suits, dip-dye blazers and nip-tuck dresses that are almost work appropriate.

Could it be that the gypsetting glamazon that Williamson designs for has grown up and got a job? Perhaps, but at heart she's still the fun-loving, dance floor ruling girl with a treasure trove of tassels and sparkles to twirl around in.