There's Something About Mary...

Mary Katrantzou is the name on every fashionista's lips; the brightest emerging talent on the scene at the moment, her collections prove that the long-lasting love affair between art and fashion is stronger than ever. Here at Team LBD, the iconic little black dress will always be our wardrobe staple and turn-to piece, but the fashion savvy ones of you out there will know that this Spring/Summer it's all about making a statement in feminine colours and vivid prints. To put it simply, Mary Katrantzou is the queen of prints. Constantly creating dresses and runway looks that are so beautiful they should be framed and hung on the wall, Mary's designs are works of art themselves. A dress by this rising star is without a doubt one of S/S's must-have pieces; providing the perfect seasonal update to your LBD. Her structured evening dresses in hyper-real prints have quickly made a splash on the fashion scene, and by creating pieces that are not only visually stunning but also technically brilliant, the Athens-born designer and Central Saint Martins graduate not only knows how to dress women, but she understands the true art of fashion.

The designer initally put herself firmly on our fashion radar with her Spring/Summer 11 collection entitled C'est Ci Nes Pas Une Chambre (This is Not a Room). Taking inspiration from René Margrite, Guy Bourdin and Helmut Newton, a collection of surreal and graphic designs boldly came down the catwalks and her digitally intelligent patterns elevated prints to a more fashion-forward status.

Not one to disappoint this year's eagerly awaiting fashion fans, her Spring/Summer 2012 collection followed on from it perfectly. Sending gorgeous models strutting down the runways in acid-bright prints, pretty lampshade skirts and gorgeous asymmetric cuts, the fashion elite soon fell head over heels in love with her visually stunning pieces adorned in abstract trompe-loeil prints. With our runway lust already in full bloom, news of Mary's collaboration with Topshop whipped us all up into a fashion frenzy as photos showed dresses of catwalk calibre, with the jewel of her capsule collection being the ‘Pheasant Dream' dress (pictured below) priced at ¬£350. Bold printed silk scarves and strong statement mini dresses are certain to recreate the madness of Versace for H&M when it appears online and in selected stores on February 17^th.

Her signature style of combining architectural shapes with intoxicating prints has already made her one of fashions most listened to voices. With style icons Alexa Chung and Julia Restoin Roitfield all proudly wearing her designs, Mary has also become next red carpet fashion fancy. Take notes and team your bold prints with neutral accessories, keeping hair and make up simple too for an effortlessly chic look, day or night. From the demure to the dramatic, these designer dresses are regularly gracing the pages of Vogue and ELLE exuding a strong sense of feminine style and her instantly recognisable designs are on wish lists all over the world. Whilst you're waiting eagerly for the Topshop release, why not check out our hand-picked Mary Kantratzou's dresses in the meantime?

Written by Gayle Evans

There's Something About Mary...

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