TOPSHOP UNIQUE SPRING/SUMMER 2012
This season Unique reawakens the glamour and opulence of ancient Egypt, urbanising the attire of the pharaohs and fusing ancient and modern together. The silhouette is undeniably influenced by streetwear, whilst prints evoke the imagery of the pharoahs, perfect for a modern Egyptian queen in urban London. Jewel colours dominate - gold, turquoise, white, watermelon and inky black.
The flamboyance of Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra is celebrated, offering pieces that reimagine the goddess figure. Elaborate woven gold ribbon detailing adorns the bodice of a pale watermelon jersey dress, and can also be found on a turquoise circular clasp bag and a cream shopper in the softest buttery leather. A shimmering pink gold lurex bias cut dress and skirt embody pure glamour, whilst Taylor’s image is directly evoked on a tee and sweatshirt.
Streetwear and sportswear influences can be found throughout the collection. Egyptian hieroglyphic prints evoke connotations of graffiti and can be found on jersey track pants, whilst hoodies and track tops come in gold and covered in coiled cobra prints. Running shorts come in rose gold, black leather and printed nylon, whilst swimsuits feature hoods. Sweatshirting and jersey are key and are used on a snake print sweat tee, a cropped pair of beetle print tracksuit bottoms and a metallic gold sweatshirt. A 90s hip hop influence can be found in the oversized hoodies, jersey tube dresses, crop tops and column skirts which hug the body. Jewellery is heavy and influenced by the street – a chunky gold necklace features snake imagery, whilst a signet ring features hieroglyphics and a gold-plated harness adds toughness. Baseball caps and visors are the only headwear, realised in Egyptian gold and black stripes or decorated in Roman-inspired gold metal laurel leaves.
Prints offer variations on sacred Egyptian animals and ancients scrolls. A bright turquoise column dress features a gold foil digital print inspired by scarab beetles, and a turquoise tube skirt is decorated with foil print sand flies. The sacred cat appears in a photographic print on a figure-hugging dress and appliquéd on a knitted vest. Embellishment is also key: a chunky cream wool sweatshirt and hoody are stand-out pieces and come decorated with black hieroglyphics and gold foil printed snakes. Laser cutting adds texture to white denim, burning away layers to leave the suggestion of beetles. Pyramid imagery appears on hair bands and black pyramid-shaped sequins.
Reveal and conceal panels are a key feature of the collection. A sheer white gold mesh crop top features ‘all seeing eye’ images, a white trench coat has a sheer back and a white gold jersey panel dress has mesh sheer sleeves and shoulders. A black leather jacket has sheer sleeves.
Accessories are a mixture of ancient and modern influences. Metallic leather backpacks in rose gold and turquoise come with gold rope straps and patent leather bum bags are foil printed. White leather gladiator sandals with gold piping feature modern electro-plated gold heels, whilst lace-up stacked flats have gold and tortoiseshell soles. Laurel leaves also appear on a deliate clutch bag with gold rope handle and an ear clip. Icarus-inspired wings decorate Roman-inspired gladiator sandals which are laser-cut to add a modern spin. Jewellery includes gold needle necklaces reminiscent of ancient Egyptian neck collars and hair combs decorated with the asp that led to the death of Cleopatra in Egyptian mythology.
