SSAFW The Winter Collections—Coppèlia

According to SSAFW, "The winter Coppèlia range is inspired by the genre of country music. Inspiration comes from Sissy Spacek in The Coal Miner's Daughter, the music of Emmy Lou Harris, Loretta Lynn and the contemporary The Be Good Tanyas. There is a touch of the deep south of the 1920's and 1930's in the collection. The range consists of everyday country work wear to Sunday 'dress up best.' Layering in the form of coats over dresses, loose fit denim jeans, shorts and skirts in natural fabrics such as various weighted cottons and lightly bleached denim. Over dyed and delicately printed cottons feature strongly. The colour palette moves from black, brown, maroon to grey and cream. Tan hiking boots, thick woollen winter socks contrast with delicate dresses. The hemlines on skirts and dresses rise just above and on the knee in loose fitting silhouettes. The range is simple, uncluttered and honest."

MIMI's take: Inspired by the South ... hm, that's an interesting choice for a South African designer. Anyhow, the South is typically evocative of the Southern Belle (think big puffy white and peach colored dresses), but obviously Coppèlia was going in the opposite direction and thinking of the working South. We think that the Coppèlia collection has some silhouettes that you don't see that often, but overall the shapes are not flattering and not forward-looking. The dresses don't look like something that a grown woman would wear. Thoughts?

(Photo Credits: Provided Courtesy Of Sanlam South Africa Fashion Week)