British designer Sinead Gorey made her London Fashion Week runway debut for SS24, bringing her playful aesthetic to the catwalk for the first official time. The collection felt as patriotic as fish and chips and a crisp lager shared with mates … on a Monday night.
The South London native kept things on her side of the river, showing the collection under the railway arches in Vauxhall, an area the designer likely knows well, thanks to her time spent throwing and attending parties and squat raves, a past-time that heavily influences her designs.
Union Jacks were plentiful, featuring on dresses and baby tees, with a Union Jack high-heeled boot featuring the patriotic print paying homage to the pair worn by Ginger Spice in an epic dose of noughties girlhood nostalgia.
The colours of the flag could also be found edging its way across figure-hugging white dresses, sharing the garment with newspaper clippings and prints, which not only nodded to trashy tabloid headlines but to ‘chippy teas’, a pinnacle of British cuisine. Amongst the tongue-in-cheek cultural references were elegant mesh black dresses, complete with tassel detailing, which could effortlessly transport its wearer from dinner to the club.
The colour palette was loud and face-ready, drawing inspiration from the rave scene with deep blues, lime green and red, which featured bodysuits, one-pieces and miniskirts. Striped patterns incorporated fuschia pink into the mix, too, a favourite of the London club girlies. Models paired mesh tops with ruched miniskirts, lace tights and black heels in looks that felt sleek and sexy. The collection also revealed a collaboration with Buffalo, which saw knee-high lace-up boots stomp down the catwalk, again referencing the designers’ formative years in the UK nightlife scene.
The collection focused on the charms of optimism that keep the UK afloat, focusing on a lineage of great music and a yearning for good times. As part of this exploration, nods to Brit-pop, punk and rave all played a role. The show was a reflection of what is meant to be British, which, as per the show notes, is “sarcasm, pubs, unpredictable weather and a love of partying,” which, as the rain thrashed down, all managed to shine through.
London was calling, and Sinead Gorey answered. Rooted in nostalgia, the collection felt like an embodiment of everything the Sinead Gorey brand has become, joining the dots between British culture all while being feminine, sporty and rooted in fun, hedonistic and well-referenced.
You can take a look at the Sinead Gorey show above. More fashion week content can be found across Tik Tok and Instagram.
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