“J.W. Anderson showcased a collection that was more wearable than ever.”
Grey hair was the centerpiece at JW Anderson’s latest London Fashion Week show. The Northern Irish designer showcased models wearing super curly grey wigs, dubbed ‘granny chic’ by some fashion enthusiasts on Instagram. Despite the quirky wigs, the autumn/winter 2024 collection continued to showcase quiet luxury, indicating that the runway trend is here to stay.
The wigs might have been quirky, but the autumn/winter 2024 collection seemed to continue quiet luxury – showing that the runway trend isn’t slowing down soon.
Knitwear was central to this collection, with skimpy matching sets giving a new take on the underwear-as-outerwear trend, juxtaposing with sculptural woolen two-pieces. The color palette was predominantly neutral, with the odd electric blue or pale lime bringing a welcome pop to the runway.
Plenty of highly chic bags and accessories were on the runway, the bread and butter of the JW Anderson brand, and footwear focused on comfort – with most models wearing slipper-style flat boots.
Anderson’s fashion often goes viral. Remember the pigeon bag SJP wore? The Wellington boots looked like frogs. This collection focuses on understated dressing.
The designer told WWD in an interview: “There are no bells and whistles. I don’t want there to be an hysteria, although this is not about quiet luxury. It’s more about how we feel about clothing.”
Cult beauty brand Merit was responsible for the make-up look – unsurprising, as Merit is known for its minimalist approach to beauty.
“The look for JW Anderson was focused on strong, tough beauty,” said make-up artist Lynsey Alexander. Models wore a bold matte red lip in the shade Vermillion ($28, launching Feb 22). The statement lip turned them into “powerful characters,” according to Alexander.
She added: “We juxtaposed subtle and loud looks. The girls were groomed in a boyish manner with a handsome brow and athletic skin instead of applying a red stamped-on mouth.
Then, of course, there were the wigs – Anderson gave a peek behind his thought process on Instagram, writing: “The subtle and the loud. A grey wig as a device. And flats. Housewife flats.”
The collection was shown at London’s Seymour Hall. It’s a striking sports hall in a Victorian building. There were plenty of stars on the front row. These included Jameela Jamil, fresh off her appearance on the latest British Vogue cover. Also present were artist Tracey Emin, and actors Ruth Wilson and Keeley Hawes.
It was a big day for Anderson. Later, Canadian actress Taylor Russell wore a Loewe creation to the Baftas – the luxury brand where Anderson is the creative director.
Russell is an ambassador for Loewe. He wore an all-white outfit. The outfit had a turtleneck. It also had extreme cut-outs around the midriff. Feathered accents adorned the drop waist and hemline.
Anderson will show Loewe’s following collection at Paris Fashion Week on March 1.
