Luxury fashion designer Charlie May is certainly young, but she definitely knows what she’s doing. The 24-year-old graduated from university in England just over two years ago, but is already establishing herself in the cut-throat industry. After working as assistant to London-based designer Thomas Tait for two seasons, May set up shop in the same city to pursue her own label. With two successful collections already under her belt, she recently presented her most recent creations for Spring 2013 at her very first runway show.
The catwalk for Charlie May’s Spring 2013 line was set up at the Stafford London Hotel Wine Cellars. The collection followed the same minimally androgynous style that has become May’s signature look. Taking inspiration from her childhood which was spent on farm land in the south of England, May’s presentation for Spring 2013 featured materials like semi-transparent mesh, chiffon, and leather that revealed themselves in the forms of delicate tops, outerwear, trousers, and flowing skirts.
Bare skin was no rarity on this runway, as the jackets were often left open and halter tops featured revealing side cuts. The look was kept tasteful, though, as the restricted color palette of creams and pastels combined with impeccable tailoring resulted in a refined elegance with architectural precision.
May clearly experimented with the construction of some pieces, like leather vests that had extended length and shorts, skirts and jumpers that hit mid-thigh with unique tapering. Other items like tailored trousers and classic blouses had a more traditional feel. Nevertheless, nothing in May’s collection was expected — a characteristic that I believe make it a success— and I can’t wait to see what else this young designer has in store for the future.