st y l e C e n t r a l
Midi dresses, denim skirts and tassel sandals top this month’s must-have list Wo r d s c h a r l o t t e a d s e t t
KOKORO Wo r d s s t e p h a n i e k i n g
n fashion, September is a time for beginnings. It is a fresh start, as I designers unveil new season collections and directions for their brands. So what better way to ring in Fashion's New Year than with our discovery of recently ope ned KOKORO, a lifestyle store with its own special vision. The Japanese name, translating to “heart; mind; spirit,” encapsulates owner/ designer Dawn Green’s Connaught Street boutique, which has a selection of fashion and home accessories. KOKORO’s very essence is a contemporary take on historic Japan: the in-house womenswear label alone is made in Kyoto using traditional production methods, but bears Green’s fashion forward aesthetic, with input from illustrator/textile designer Bella Gomez and Tokyo-based Sachika Nakama. And AW15 is no different: the collection is a collaboration with renowned tattoo artist Alex Reinke, AKA Horikitsune, who specialises in the ancient art of Irezumi. While luxury fabrics convey the brand’s East-meets-West spirit, the seamless fusion of ‘the old’ with ‘the new’ demonstrates the level of thought behind KOKORO, as gold feature walls, vintage Japanese photographs and cherry blossom bouquets frame the latest bags and shoes from Amelie Pichard, fine jewellery from Alice Cicolini, Yastik cushions and Assouline books. Within moments of stepping inside, it is obvious that the harmony between KOKORO’s beautiful, albeit juxtaposing, pieces requires a skilled hand to achieve it. Actually, no; this sense of balance requires something much bigger: heart. Something of which Green evidently has in spades. u
Rock the Kasbah Etro
This season sees the fashion world’s love affair with the luxe bohemian trend continue, as Kate Moss poses for Etro’s AW15 campaign. The opulent collection features paisley printed silk pyjama sets, two-piece suits, mohair coats, and beaded dresses. etro.com
● KO KO R O 19 Connaught Street, W2; kokorolondon.com
ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES
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