Today marks another round in the game of designer musical chairs. Sharon Wauchob is leaving her post as the creative director at Edun to focus on her own brand, and will be replaced by Danielle Sherman starting today.
Last season might have been all about print-on-print-on-print, but Spring's latest leans toward a more subtle way of styling your bold patterns. At the Diesel and Edun Studio Africa party in LA, brand ambassador Solange Knowles showed us how to style printed shorts (one of our seasonal must haves) for a look that's high on impact, but not over the top. The key to getting this trend right is finding the perfect pair of statement shorts — we suggest a pair that's not too tight and not too short — and pairing it with minimal accompaniments. Solange's abstract-print cuffed Edun shorts pop against her white Theyskens' Theory sheer-sleeve blouse, while gold metallic sandals add just the right amount of shine to her party look. For added pop, Solange polished off her ensemble with a modern Lucite CC Skye clutch ($295) and gold rings. Easy, right? Shop our editors' selection of printed shorts, then get to styling!
More than any other Spring 2013 collection, we can look to Edun for a strong conscientious presentation of contrasted viewpoints. What we mean by this is that there is no other brand that consistently — and, as a rule of thumb — reinvents the way in which we can wear globally-sourced, nature-inspired fabrics and textures in the context of what's fashion-forward and beautiful. Today, we witnessed the latest reimagination: a cool mix of army-green utilitarian pieces (zippered vests, cargo trumpet-hem skirts, and camo-printed trousers) against sexier bralette tops, draped chiffon tops, and patchwork corseted dresses. Among our favorites spotted on the runway? A double-zippered olive-hued shiftdress (that's just begging to be worn with a pair of sexy reptilian-print ankle-strap sandals) topped our list. It's official: we deem this lineup Spring's sultry safari adventure. Catch up on our show breakdown below — then, click through to see Edun's latest offerings in full.
"What girl doesn't love the shiny bits?" asked Edun founder Ali Hewson backstage before her brand's Spring 2013 show, referring to the judicious sprinkling of sequins designer Sharon Wauchob applied to her utilitarian-minded collection.
The sustainable brand's newest offering ranged from olive drab jackets with plenty of functional zippered pockets to flirty printed dresses, camouflage trousers, and bralette tops that were simultaneously sweet and tough. Straddling the dichotomy between those two feelings requires a lot of stretching, but Wauchob accomplished it by pairing girlie flourishes (a bow here, a ruffle there) with hardworking elements like elastic straps and open crochet work that looks like netting. Hewson's beloved sequins married the hard and soft metaphors perfectly: they were applied to the seams on a jacket and as pocket panels on a strapless black dress.
Edun's Sharon Wauchob has Summer vacation on the brain as much as I do, designing an exclusive collection for Net-a-Porter that's inspired by Ibiza. The line of breezy dresses and this very cute romper are all done in cool blue shades, invoking "sunlight and indigo rainstorms" and designed for "the lighthearted Edun girl on holiday." In case you weren't sure, this romper is a highlight, super light and floaty, and goes effortlessly from day to night — pair it with flat strappy sandals and a woven tote for shopping outdoor markets, then throw on wedge espadrilles and a white linen blazer for a night out. The collection hits Net-a-Porter today.
>> Designer Sharon Wauchob takes her Edun girl on a punk rock safari for Fall 2012. "I was trying to show the modernity of Africa, connected to an urban environment," the designer explained. To that end, artfully draped, formfitting silk dresses were splashed with vibrant tribal prints, tops and sweaters were patterned in zebra, and — for contrast — boxy baseball-coats, pleated skirts, and wide trousers were cut in textured leather and lush plaid wool.
Barely there nails may be one of Fashion Week's biggest trends, but one look that always seems to agree with the runway is a return to '80s-era punk rock. And at Edun's Fall 2012 show, makeup, hair, and nail artists combined their talents to develop a fresh, modern take on the classically edgy style. But most of all, this creative group proved that the everything old is new again mantra doesn't have to read stale. Find out three ways you can make this updated punk-rock beauty look your own.
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Bono and wife Ali Hewson's elevated eco-conscious clothing brand showed off a darker mood this season, but not to worry, the presence of Edun's signature exotic prints abounded in pops of silky fuchsia and electric blue combos. Even as the first model took her turn on the runway, the clothes delivered a strong message: the Edun girl, as the program notes, "has taken her punk rock roots on safari." With that said, this is one urban-infused African safari trip we've ever embarked upon. Among the most prevalently featured prints were zebra, leopard, gazelles — reincarnated into prettily draped shoulder dresses, loud shirt dresses, and even twist dresses. To add a layer of functional Winter warmth into the mix, Edun's Fall '12 lineup showcased boxy ribbed turtlenecks, leather slickers, and a plethora of structured, tough-girl overcoats. Cold weather, beware — this cool mix of animal-inspired patterns and chunky outerwear packs a seasonal punch.
For the hair, Bumble and Bumble's Laurent Philippon made sure that the subtly roughed-up coiffure he created felt somewhat structured, all while remaining attractive and wearable. To get his "cool-girl-in-the-sun" look, start with a mixture of the brand's Surf Spray and Prep products for a conditioned-yet-matte texture. Gently backcomb the hair and flat-iron it, for a look that's blurred between soft and shiny, and rough and beachy.
