LALA BERLIN

Fashion – free-spirited and wild. Tracing the footsteps of the Wild West

With "Wild West Trapper“, the preliminary title of the new autumn/winter 2009/10 collection, Lala Berlin again gives us some amazing designs to discover. Until well into the 19th century, trappers – at home in both, wilderness and civilisation - represented the American pioneering spirit, determination and affinity with nature. Leyla Piedayesh sets out to follow on this historic trail. The destination - a mindset of values that have shaped the Western world ever since: A life based on freedom, independence and self-determination.

As ever, Lala Berlin's take on "Wild West Trapper" is a very personal, unexpected fashion statement. Rather than reviving the masculinised, i.e., the androgynous style or relying on a somewhat clumsy 1:1 remake of rustic-style clothing, Leyla Piedayesh concentrates on historic insignia of the pioneer and trapper culture. Used selectively and in an abstracted form, the result is a playful mix of contrasting  materials such as coarse-mesh knitwear and fine, flowing yarns in the signature Lala Berlin luxurious, yet easygoing style.

Just as in past collections, the concentration on exclusive materials like silk, chiffon, cashmere and leather is the key to the label's success. Its refined detailing makes the Lala Berlin collection A/W 2009/10 a show-stopper once again. In place of genuine fur appropriate for trappers, specially processed wool yarns are being used which not only provide coats and jumpers with the characteristic fur look but, more importantly, offer a sense of well-being to the wearer. Moreover, the use of thick ribbon yarns for a special haptic effect, a novel Swarovski yarn which creates a feel of refined glamour as well as leather embellished knitwear and other pieces add to the collection's overall sophistication.

The ultimate highlight of the 35-piece knitwear and 30-piece ready-to-wear collections are the silk dresses: snake, leopard, lace or firework prints are sure to turn heads. The extra-long coat made from thick ribbon yarn as well as a number of designs featuring extravagant patchwork details make for an interesting contrast with the exquisite materials of some of the collection's other pieces.

In addition, Leyla Piedayesh presents exclusive cashmere jersey designs for the first time. While her shirts and leggings are reminiscent of the long underclothes worn by trappers during the Wild West era, they also emphasize her excellence in transforming antiquated functional wear into fashion statements.

The latest Lala Berlin collection is evidence of a shift in focus from traditional knitwear dresses to new combinations of skirts matched with blouses, jumpers and cardigans. The colour palette ranges from different shades of red, black and powder to night blue.

Renowned for its unusual winter details, Lala Berlin will again put the emphasis on accessories in the Autumn/Winter 2009/10 collection. Many of the highlights that make the main collection stand out are featured here again: fur look, Swarovski, ribbon and sequin yarns accompanied by soft and fluffy baby mohair or merino wool.

All mixed and matched together, these ingredients result in a novel patchwork that is sure to become an eyecatcher – just like the supersized striped woolen hat, the marvellous macramé shawl or the utterly stylish knitted hair bands. While the accessories collection is predominantly classy in form, it includes a number of oversize and other trendy pieces like earmuffs. Colours range from black and red to shades resulting from mixing these two. In addition, the label's cooperation with jewellery designer Sabrina Dehoff has resulted in a number of stunning belt creations.

Come and join Lala Berlin on its trip back to the  days of pioneers discovering the New World. Look forward to a new collection drawing a visual arch from Lala Berlin relaxed elegance to exciting Wild West aesthetics.