David Koma presents his ‘Million Dollar Mermaid’ for SS22
The London-based designer has glamourised swimwear for his SS22 collection.
DESIGNER: DAVID KOMA
SEASON: Spring/Summer 2022
EVENT: London Fashion Week
LOCATION: London Aquatics Centre
It’s not hard to understand why A-list celebrities the likes of HAILEY BIEBER, CARDI B, BEYONCÉ and JLO have been dazzled by David Koma’s playful and elegant designs. Who wouldn’t love to sport ultra body-contouring silhouettes that enhance the feminine form? For SS22, the Georgia-born designer has served with yet another array of mouth-watering looks to add even more joy and sparkle to these elite wardrobes.
TOM DALEY and knitting is no longer the only connection between swimming and fashion. David Koma’s SS22 collection was inspired by Annette Kellerman, who popularised synchronised swimming and was one of the first women to wear a one-piece bathing costume instead of pantaloons; a legacy immortalised in the 1952 film Million Dollar Mermaid.
Held at the Zaha Hadid-designed London Aquatics Centre, a remnant of the 2012 Summer Olympics, the show saw a runway flooded by models in lycra mini dresses and cocktail gowns tinted in neon colours like yellow, fuchsia, bubblegum pink and aqua. Garments that sit on the intersection between athleticism and glamour, between sportswear and evening-wear.
Feather embellishments and transparent sequins mimicked underwater movement and created a seducing wet effect, while the crystals of the embroideries that adorned the garment’s hems and décolletages paid homage to the form language of the late Zaha Hadid. But his signature sexy cut-outs and graphic silhouettes could not be left out… A pale yellow neon top, reminiscent of bikini uppers, was paired with high-waisted trousers in the same sequin-covered fabric and a contrast stitch jacket in black, showing the perfect synergy between the two worlds. The jewel of the crown? The two buttons on the front pockets of the jacket, covered in crystals.
This collection is just one more step in David Koma’s obsession with sports. For now, the designer has elevated tennis court garments and swimwear to a higher realm, uniting comfort and elegance for the post-pandemic world that he has reigned since our lives were put on hold. Only one question remains…where will he find his inspiration next?
Images courtesy of Getty.
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