Bo Claridge by Peter Fingleton

VPE Style Picks from Larry Tee’s Fashion Disaster Party, XOYO, London

London Fashion Week prompted some major excitement this year as a number of new and innovative designers hit the nightlife scene to show off their latest creations. Larry Tee’s Fashion Disaster Party at XOYO gathered the most notable of the innovators under one roof, setting the stage for an eventful evening. Soundtracked by Electro and Hip Hop, there was a feast for the eyes at every glance. Rapper Brooke Candy headlined the show and made her London debut, exuding a powerful presence. She is known for reclaiming negative stereotypes and projecting them freely as a ‘sexy-ass female who’s running shit and confident.’ Candy’s self-confessed over-sexualized image encouraged attendees to push their own boundaries. Her style has been inspired by Lil Kim, Left Eye and her work behind the scenes at Hustler magazine, making Candy a perfect mannequin for East London’s fascination with all things empowering.

Before the main show, we saw Serious Thugs duo made up of Alis Pelleschi and Yung Willuminati. Pelleschi was representing her latex label MEAT with a pastel blue dress from the ‘4D Fantasy’ collection. Her design collaborator Bo Claridge was in the audience flaunting a two-piece from the new collection, ‘Believe,’ which was presented during fashion week. As a fan of latex, I’ve been following MEAT’s ascent and am very excited about what they have just showcased for LFW. It also draws upon female empowerment, merging the smart with the sexy.

Alongside pumping beats, thuggish rap and a conclave of exciting characters we witnessed the likes of another young star, Mary Benson, who was wearing pieces from her new collection that we were introduced to during LFW. Donning a sheer black dress decorated with black vinyl roses and a jacket in dark blue fleece, Benson has shown a natural progression from her trademark playful holograms, and moved on to more regal designs.

Manchester-based label Horsebird made quite a stir at the party as designers Antony Kaye and Toria Brightside gave Candy and a select group of London’s alternative style enthusiasts their own custom varsity jackets. Owned by Kaye, Horsebird launched in September 2012. With magazine covers and North-based stockists already under Kaye’s belt, the brand has shown to soar to great heights in the short time since. Kaye’s mantra is centred around quality, demonstrated in the attention to detail and tailoring on the jackets we saw at the Fashion Disaster Party.

Text by Victoria Pen Elizabeth
Images by Peter Fingleton and Conor Clinch

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1.Brooke Candy on stage by Peter Fingleton; 2. Roberto Piqueras by Conor Clinch; 3. Byron London, Charli XCX, Anthony Kaye and Toria Brightside in their custom varsity jackets; 4. Mikey Woodbridge by Peter Fingleton; 5. Byron London, Charli XCX, Anthony Kaye and Toria Brightside in their custom varsity jackets; 6.  Jenkin Van Zyl by Peter Fingleton; 7. Alexis Knox by Conor Clinch;  8. Bo Claridge wearing her own label MEAT by Peter Fingleton; 9. Byron London in his custom Horsebird varsity jacket; 10. Mary Benson