PARTY LIKE IT'S H&M X MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA

Posted by Bethan Holt, Fashion Junior at Large

For a label which has previously shown in metro stations and simultaneously in boutiques across the world, a straightforward catwalk show would never have sufficed for the launch of their much anticipated collaboration with an international high-street giant. Nevertheless, the mammoth, dilapidated, 9 floor venue which the Margiela and H&M team had chosen in Manhattan's downtown business district was enough to elicit a wow or two from the assembled fashion press,  NY cool kids and smattering of on-brand celebs. It did feel a little like we might be walking onto the set of a horror film, a haunted, long abandoned department store or that Miss Havisham might emerge at any moment from one of the dusty, crumbling chambers which surrounded shabby-chic balconies- one of the night's most impressive feats was that these didn't buckle under the weight of partygoers. Instead of any unfolding horror, we were treated to performances in various art installations from Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker's Rosas dance troupe, all incorporating elements of the collection, of course. At the top was a pop up shop where partygoers could get their hands on the collection for the first time, cue frenzied buying and plenty of squabbles over the sweet wrapper clutch bags which look set to be the most-wanted pieces in the collection.

Here's my tumble of pictures from last night.  Enjoy...

Looking up

A silver ticker tape shower finished off proceedings

Pop-up shop buying madness

THE CELEBS

Helena Christensen waiting for the lift

Kanye West sweeps in

Sarah Jessica Parker's head

Julianne Moore watching the dancers with her husband

Event organiser Suzanne

Stunning Joan Smalls

THE INSTALLATION

Figures encased in plaster by Daniel Ashram

A halloween-y white shirt graveyard

IT WAS A TRIUMPH! NO IT WAS A SENSATION!

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

27 models, representing 27 finalists, line up to be judged by Rankin, Matthew Williamson and Helena Christensen at the Triumph Inspiration Awards

The night before Fashion Week starts is always awash with parties. Last night Lily Allen launched her shop Lucy in Disguise at 10 King Street, Covent Garden and Fashion Editor at Large had nothing but good to say about it. Kate Moss also had a party to celebrate the launch of KM3D-1, a 3D film of Kate by Baillie Walsh. Selfridges launched their Shoe Galleries in spectacular style and Fendi had a private dinner with the east London gallery Fumi. However, my choice was to attend the grand finale of the Triumph Inspiration Award at the Old Sorting Office on New Oxford Street.

MW and HC posing up a storm

Now in it's third year, the Triumph Inspiration Award is an international competition with a top prize of  E15,000, and the winning design is produced and sold in Triumph stores across the world. Everyone was fizzing with excitement (and not just because there were beautiful lingerie models to ogle, though Rankin did look particularly happy) over the amazing young designers. The competition brief was 'Shape Sensation' and the objective? Well to create some of the world's most innovative lingerie pieces, of course! It was judged by, among other Matthew Williamson and Helena Christensen (above).

Obviously, this model is backstage

The fashion crowd took their seats for the high octane catwalk show, where each finalist had interpreted 'Shape Sensation' in their own unique way. We saw everything from carved wood, to wire hoops, to exploding balloons filled with rainbow coloured dust! The innovation was incredible, and it was intriguing to see how each person had taken a totally different approach to the design brief. The entire spectrum of styles were covered, including extreme, exaggerated femininity with embellished flowers, to sleek, sculptural designs including a body suit made of jointed, polished wood.

My favourites (as modelled by Helena Christensen, and shot by Rankin):

Ayumi Kawase (Japan) 'A Brassiere Imaging a Forest'

 Justin Singh (Canada) 'Sands of Time'

 Peet Dullart (Netherlands) 'Sensimotion'

 The judging panel included Rankin, Matthew Williamson and Helena Christensen, who all watched intently before disappearing off, Masterchef-style, to make their final decision.

The talented winners were:

1st - Nikolay Bojilov (Bulgaria) 'Morphology'

2nd - Amaya Carcamo (Spain) 'Wood Sensation'

3rd - Lodovico Loffreda (Italy)

All three looked overwhelmed as they picked up their trophies from Adam Garcia and Helena, none more so than the winner Nikolay Bojilov who did a victory walk with his winning design and the supermodel herself.

 The winners pick up their prizes!

A victory walk for the worthy winner

It was a super glamorous evening, with a few celeb faces in amongst the crowd (we spotted Donna Air, Alexandra Burke and the face of Triumph, Louise Redknapp). But the focus was firmly on the incredible designs - some of these young students clearly have a lot to offer the world of lingerie. I look forward to seeing what Nicolay does next.

The personal blog of Fashion Junior at Large can be found here

For more about Triumph http://www.triumph-inspiration-award.com/