Sunny side up-Matthew Williamson ft H&M

By Chen Jie (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-15 09:15

The summer collection offers an intriguing glimpse into Williamson's imagination, just as his spring line did. Most of the items are iconic pieces that have been revived from his archive. The men's collection is inspired by Williamson's own wardrobe, mixing a dapper young gentleman's style with hot colors and attractive ethnic influences.

The designer himself says: "This summer collection embraces the vacation lifestyle. The women's wear is British female goes to Ibiza and raids Jade Jagger's wardrobe while for the men's, imagine a British boy who has traveled the world and incorporated the inspiration he found into his personal style."

Acclaimed as a color connoisseur and famous for using vibrant and bold prints, the 37-year-old designer did not wear too many colors himself that morning when he talked with journalists from around the world on the 11th floor of the fancy, newly open Standard Hotel facing the Hudson River in New York.

He cut a good-looking figure in a cream striped suit and washed blue jeans, with his neatly trimmed beard, tanned skin and marble green eyes. He traced his love for vibrant colors from his upbringing in gloomy Manchester. By the age of 10, he was already dreaming of owning a shop with a pink sign. "I remember being fascinated by fashion as a boy," he recalled. "Manchester is a gray city so I wanted to use colors."

He burst on to the fashion scene in 1997 with a colorful collection dubbed Electric Angels, modeled by Kate Moss, Helena Christensen and Jade Jagger. His label has since become a celebrities' favorite and brought the party lifestyle of the global traveler to the catwalk, culminating in 2004, when he was named Elle's Designer of the Year.

You would have to conclude that his H&M collection, from a Maxi dress for $349 to a bikini top for $16.9, is a steal for those who don't have Madonna's budget. "The idea is that every girl who walks into an H&M can go 'I can buy this'," he said.

His inspiration comes from exotic cultures. "I travel every year to get inspiration," he said. "In this summer collection, you can feel the vibe sported by pretty young things in Ibiza, Mykonos, the Hamptons and beyond - but the prints and the patterns, such as the birds and butterflies, look very Chinese. I have always been fascinated by Eastern cultures."

In fact the Middle Kingdom is likely to see him soon. "My favorite fabric is silk and I have heard that China has perfect silk and embroidery, so I am really looking forward to visiting China where my H&M collection has enjoyed great popularity," he said.

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