Lily’s Fashion || AFW 10/11

Liliia Bencz is not a tall woman, but her talent is enormous. “Self expression to the fullest,” is how Bencz describes her first runway collection, drawing inspiration not from the world around her, but instead from within.

The collection pays homage to every woman – the 1920′s flapper with her liberal ideas strutted down the runway, embodied in velour and tassels; the clothes fell loosely from the body, allowing movement and a sense of freedom. Earlier still, the tiniest of nods to Paul Poiret’s pantaloons for women, reinvented by Bencz in velour.

Bencz also referenced the 80′s power suit with bold shoulders, and brought to mind the early 1960′s “Mad Men” aesthetic with a blood red fitted dress, below-the-knee hemlines and a heavy dose of leopard print. The unexpected combination of velour trousers and leopard print, 1900′s and 60′s, left those watching intrigued for what might come next.

Enter the sequined, bubblegum pink dresses that instantly brought Barbie to mind, and their softer counterparts that would have everyone reminiscing Molly Ringwald as Andie Walsh.

Finally, Liliia Bencz showed us the modern woman of Hollywood, in dresses that ranged from movie premier to full on Oscar-winner. Here we see Bencz eye for trends, including an asymmetrical one-shouldered dress, and a floor-sweeping metallic turquoise taffeta gown.

It’s almost shocking that a self-taught designer could bring such diverse concepts to life, and yet, as Bencz said, there are “no challenges, just designing.”

Words by Jeanine Brito
Photography © Faby Martin 2010