Having studied at the Royal College of the arts and going on to work with formidable fashion houses Alberta Ferretti, Aganovich and Alexander McQueen, it is little wonder that Maaike Mekking is pushing the boundaries on preconceived notions of style. The muted tones of Maaike Mekking’s SS 09 collection, ‘The Girl With The Perpetual Nervousness,’ are offset by explosively paired textures in a series of pieces that are once conventional and experimental. Maaike Mekking breaks down traditional style paradigms while maintaining and inimitable timelessness to creates something refined and yet daringly innovative.
‘The Girl With The Perpetual Nervousness’ is the fourth collection in the label’s repertoire and it temps the laws of gravity with dangerous combinations of structure and volume. Some of the most adventurous pieces see layers upon layers of tulle set against body hugging bodices, fitted shirts and calf grazing leggings. The inherent dichotomy present in these pieces reflects the dual nature of the female persona as a dark ballerina is conjured before us, delicate and graceful yet mysterious and treacherous.
The simpler pieces in the collection possess a relaxed femininity as skirts, tops and dresses drape delicately over the body while the soft colour palette reflects the romance of the summer sunset over the London cityscape. Subtle features in each piece ensure that the originality of Maaike Mekking is not lost in this femininity, but instead give the range a distinct edge. Asymmetrical hemlines, bold cut outs and attention-grabbing tasselled accessories ensure that Maaike Mekking’s signature sharpness and originality shines through for summer.
