Spotlight On Accessories: JW Anderson
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By Emily Kropp
in Fashion Features
on March 09, 2010
Irish-born designer JW Anderson proves that accessories are universally wearable and should be appreciated by all.
While he showed an impressive menswear collection at London Fashion Week this year, JW Anderson's accessory collections for men and women are what set the designer apart from the pack.
There are long, chunky necklaces with starfish and seahorses, oversized earrings that resemble the inside of a seashell, bangles and cuffs, and brooches that can be worn as hair clips. It's no surprise that Anderson's eponymous label emerged out of an initial interest in theater; he moved to Washington D.C. to study at The Actor's Studio and found himself more inspired by the costumes worn on stage than the theater itself. After working as a stylist in London for a time (his clients included the likes of Rufus Wainwright) he established his own menswear line, which debuted at London Fashion Week in 2007.
Anderson's designs reflect an intense interest in tribalism and social traditions, but more importantly they constantly push and pull at what it means to be masculine. His spring collection included spandex tops and bottoms (in floral print no less), as well as several black hula skirts. Many of the models exuded an androgynous appeal, but all had a certain swagger that was decidedly male.
We are entranced by JW Anderson's clothes and accessories, and can't help but wonder: When he will we see him dive into women's wear?
