It's All Out for Latex

This is an article I wrote for a Generic Fashion project. The project was called Media Sponge and we had to research a series of online and printed publications and note who is who as well as their house style. We then had to choose one of the researched publications and write an article about a trend. I chose ES Magazine.


It’s All Out for Latex



An affair that started in the bedroom behind closed doors has finally come out into the public light of the catwalk and the high street.

Latex has been stretched from the mini-trend of wearing latex leggings (see Victoria Beckham on launch of perfume range) and full-on latex costumes of Lady gaga, through the softer look of Kelly Brook in a Atsuko Kudo printed pink latex dress to finally find its way into Topshop in the guise of surf inspired latex-wear for the Unique range.

Atsuko Kudo’s designs have been featured in fashion magazines worldwide (Vogue France and Vogue Germany, Dazed & Confused, Tank), mainly in the guise of cute accessories: from latex berets to gloves, eye-patches and even earrings. Kelly Brook demonstrated in September last year (GQ Men of the Year Award) that latex does not belong behind closed doors with her cute little pink number, which whilst maintaining a certain frisson, is a far cry from the images of bondage that latex conjures. With Lady Gaga at the forefront– she even met the Queen in an Elizabethan inspired latex dress, again designed by Atsuko Kudo – the trend has been finding its way into the catwalk. The designer has also collaborated with John Rocha to create dusty pink and cosmetic coloured tights and socks for their SS10 range and with menswear designer Tim Soar for a completely different look.

The newest on the trend, is the work of menswear designer Sven Hoppe, showing last Sunday at the V&A during the London Fashion Week as part of London College of Fashion's MA show, which represents a step forward from the all-latex look by mixing textiles and painted latex for ultra-chic tailored jackets.

Just how long this affair with latex will remain in the public eye we cannot tell but it’s all out now.







From the top: Topshop Unique SS10 Catwalk; London College of Fashion graduate Sven Hoppe’s designs; Kelly Brook at the GQ Men of the Year Award; John Rocha SS10, latex tights by Atsuko Kudo.