You have 0 items in your cart
Louis Heal may be a relative newbie to the fashion scene but he’s certainly not planning on playing it safe. Having graduated from the London College of Fashion, Heal made his debut in Spring Summer of this year. Taking his inspiration from the world of fetish, latex was transformed into elegant eveningwear. This juxtaposition of elegant and feminine with the raw sex of the fetish world tapped into the current pop culture for erotica, triggered by the surprising popularity of the Fifty Shades of Grey series of novels.
Now into his third ready-to-wear collection, Heal continues to play it unsafe by combining the insect world with elegant dresses. The fetish inspiration is still evident in this collection with lacing around collars, down sleeves and holding together leather dresses and trousers. Gold fly and beetle embellishments give movement and interest to eighties inspired dresses and beetle shell trousers make for a statement look that is not for the faint hearted. The eighties influence continues in the floor sweeping, long sleeved gowns with big shoulders, even bigger hair and sharp tailoring.
Spring Summer collections often mark a return to whimsical florals and floaty skirts but Heal’s collection is all about sharp lines, nipped in waists with the odd bit of artful draping thrown in for balance. There is no hiding in these looks so be prepared to make a statement; lace up leather trousers and oversized gold beetle necklace do not exactly scream wallflower.
He may be the industry new boy but Heal designs with the confidence and daring of a fashion stalwart. So watch this space because we predict Heal might kick-start his own brand of beetle mania.
By Samantha Vandersteen
