Katazyna Szczotarska fuk@lfw s/s 07

Although Katazyna didn't appear on our original Blow off-schedule guide (which is produced each season and helps all of us interested in the off-schedule shows find them) she showed to a decent crowd who left uplifted. Last season, Katazyna entertained us with some great tunes - Johnny Cash and the Streets, I remember. At this show, the audience was treated to a variety of rock'n'roll, rockabilly sounds mixed live by a very cool rocker DJ.

Spring/summer 07 for Katazyna is all about exploring the dress. She explains in her press release how her starting point is the basic couture dress shapes which she experiments with by adding and taking away elements.

This Polish-born designer who worked with Martin Margiela is a master of form and although she may not have a deep fascination for maths, her approach seems very mathematical. With Katazyna clothes, what may at first look like a shift dress has, on closer examination, a specific cut that makes the garment move differently. Katazyna's style is always to move away from the accepted norms of pattern cutting and form - which means she makes interesting clothes.

The mood was black and white, working woman city slick without being self-concious or overly glamorous. Pencil skirts, mini cape jackets, pussy bow tie blouses, frock coats and plenty of signature Katazyna shift dresses cut to just above the knee. There are sumptuous satin blouses - one icy with buttons running all the way down the back, another rose pink with a pussy bow on the collar. Others look like they have double fronts.

A soft brown houndstooth check appears in trousers cut slightly above the ankle, culottes and smocky black dresses which could easily be coats (think Mia Farrow in 'Rosemary's Baby' for the basic shape). Playful details include black shirts with pointy collars and bows on the back and little ribbons tied at the back of figure-hugging cigarette pants.

Words: Marian Buckley
Photos: David Jones