Michael van der Ham steps up his game

Showing for only the third time solo on the fashion week schedule, Michael van der Ham made a big leap forward on the journey from rising star to established name with his spring collection.

By ELLE UK and NonePublished: 20 September 2011

<p>Already known for his love of collaged colours and textures, he'd refined his technique and broadened his interpretation of it, so that although the patchwork of fabrics was there the emphasis was on more simple pieces and on great prints, made to look

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Already known for his love of collaged colours and textures, he'd refined his technique and broadened his interpretation of it, so that although the patchwork of fabrics was there the emphasis was on more simple pieces and on great prints, made to look like torn pieces of patterned paper..

Block colour cigarette pants, cream in the front and pink at the back, were paired with colourful silk blouses. silk blouse. Pencil skirts were made from block colour wrapped with beautiful scarf-like printed silk and teamed with textured T-shirts, and the paint splattered, metallic foil printed trousers are sure to be a next-season must-have. As for the dresses they spanned the spectrum from beautifully cut, simple shapes covered with perfectly placed panels of print to more complicated, layered pieces wrapped toga-like with different fabrics. And, with ever a magpie-like eye for a great accessory, we're keeping our fingers crossed that the colorful, sparkly bags will be going into production

The collection was fresh and elegant, cool, grown-up and incredibly polished. And we suspect that Michael will have won over a new army of fans with it too.

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