Breaking on to the Other Side with Munthe

by Lotus Ladegaard

Ever since its inception, Naja Munthe has been instrumental in driving her brand Munthe forward and developing it. While she had a somewhat dull beginning, her SS18 collection was refreshing and offered several stand-out pieces, it also gave hints to the Munthe Plus Simonsen days with layered looks and an edgy feminine aesthetics combined with Naja Munthe’s own style and thus plays with and challenges the term Athleisure, which is at the heart of Munthe’s DNA.

Munthe’s AW18 collection sets a new tone with old familiar influences. Back is that special flair for fashion-forward designs, styling, and layering that put her on the fashion scene many years ago. The collection is vibrant, fresh, feminine, edgy and continuous to stretch and expand the term Athleisure with both elegance and edge. Presented with a backdrop of layers of drawn rabbits in different pastel colors and sizes, while it seemed a bit out of context, it still made for a beautiful backdrop as models walked the white catwalk, styled fresh and easy and with a bold mix of prints. A simple color palette will never be found in a Munthe collection, but instead, the brand offers everything from intense orange and bright green to dustier earthier tones in green, brown and buff, several prints, tartans, and stripes as well as several pieces in neutral colors such as black, blush and white. The collection offers just about everything needed in a wardrobe; from casual to formal and pieces that will easily cross over from day to evening. A great mix of different styles made for a great show with so many stand-out pieces and looks.

 

 

Oslo Runway AW18 : A Brief yet Intense Love Affair Vol. II

by Olivia Moreau, Lotus Ladegaard and Omi 

Oslo Runway not only provided the quintessential scandi-minimalism but also provided an array of femenine wear that are slowly but surely finding a consumer base in a very egalitarian society. And of all the delicate soothing pieces presented during Oslo Runway, some new ones stood out along with the usual suspects.  

If you think of femenine silhouettes in Oslo, you should go no further than Tina Mollatt. Tina Mollatt founded by TiMo in 2004 with the vision to offer high-quality clothing at justifiable prices. She creates garments that mix modern romance with timeless craftsmanship. By TiMo’s AW18 collection was elegant and romantic with hints of bohemian sophistication and floral serenity. The colour palette was very much in line with the colours of the season and included a blend of vibrant prints. The collection offered a wide range of looks from the everyday workwear to outerwear and evening wear. The easy-to-wear flowy silhouettes, the loose lines, the sway of the fabrics were delectable with the sound of norwegian artist Sandra Kolstad.  

It is expected that any Scandinavian fashion show would have a certain sense of minimalist attitude when it comes to aesthetics and Oslo runway tends to tow that line very carefully. The lavish, the ridiculous and at times the over-the-top fashion manifesto is truly out of place in a city that prides itself on somber and reserved aesthetics...and it shows in fashion as well. But that does not mean that Oslo runway is boring, it is an intellectual dissection of Norwegian fashion with a mixture of commercialism which is needed to survive in this industry. 

Despite being a newcomer, Cala Jade has quickly made a name for themselves as a luxury accessories brand with an eye for detail and materials. Their functional, yet edgy and timeless designed bags and accessories have excited the world of fashion and it is easy to see why. Cala Jade’s new collection offers all the bags you need and then some. From big stylish shoulder bags to smaller and sophisticated bags and edgy clutches, Cala Jade knows what women crave. With a focus on the physical attributes of the materials, their origin, and treatment, Cala Jade stands out among its peers. For each collection, the designers carefully select high-quality materials and the little details such as minuscule, rivet, buckles, and seams. Their design philosophy has inspired two lines; the refined and feminine Cala, and the androgynous and daring Jade. Together they will appeal to fashionistas of all ages around the world.

Veronica B. Vallenes is surely the Queen of Fusion within the Nordic scene. Her work known for its fusion between Nordic simplicity and the Parisian elegance has been drawing in buyers bigger scandi market and has the universal appeal that is so necessary to stand out and prosper. With an eye for detail, she successfully mixes textiles such as silk with heavy alpaca wool and added a functional yet sensual take on the contemporary Scandinavian wardrobe. Her AW18 collection certainly had all the Veronica B. Vallenes’ characteristics, however, the references to Paris were inescapable and at times a bit too predictable. Nevertheless, Veronica B. Vallenes always delivers excellent craftsmanship and exquisite finishing and the AW18 collection will undoubtedly excite her followers.

All in all Oslo Runway was a polished and well thought out affair that has the foundational and logistical elements that make a fashion week great. And as Norwegian fashion takes center stage within the scandi-market and slowly penetrates the big four, Oslo runway has positioned itself as the primary if not only game in town. 

                              PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF OSLO RUNWAY | INDIGITAL.TV

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