Simple Clad.: Roksanda Ilincic

Roksanda Ilinicic is a Serbian fashion designer based in London.

Firstly Ilinicic studied architecture and design at the Faculty of Applied Arts, Belgrade University, before coming to study at Central Saint Martins in London in 1999, where she graduated with an MA in Womenswear.

Though initially dismissed as 'occasionwear' - frivolous and insubstantial - she has earned commercial respect as well as critical acclaim. Roksanda Ilinicic has gone from strength to strength since her first showing at London Fashion Week in 2003. As she produced diffusion lines for high street stores including; Whistles, Debenhams and Matches, leading to her clothes being sold in 40 countries worldwide. Leading to a rise in sales by 140% since 2010!

2012 turned out to be a very busy year for Roksanda as she launched her new childrenswear line, 'Blossom', inspired in part by her daughter, Efimia. Also in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics, she was one of a number of designers who created a te-shirt to raise funds for the Evening Standards 'Dispossessed Fund'. Along with winning Roksanda Ilincic won the Red Carpet Award at the British Fashion Awards 2012. Roksanda Ilinicic has also be noted as the ‘Frock Queen’ as her dresses are also very popular among celebrities, she has dressed people such as; Florence Welch, Lady Gaga, the Duchess of Cambridge and Michelle Obama. Therefore she is noted as one of the most successful designers in England.

When looking at Roksanda Ilinicic the best word to describe her work is ‘elegant’. And Roksanda has spoken about the importance of elegance in her work; “; To me, elegance is very important. It’s something that I have in mind when I start designing, and it’s something that I have in mind when I finish designing. So obviously, it’s almost like a guideline, and something that sets my personal taste, because I’m personally drawn to it. However, I do feel that it’s important to establish a new type of elegance, a modern elegance: not something that is repeating what already happened in the past, but something that is relevant to our time, that feels fresh and somehow different from the elegance that we know from before.”

Roksanda has also talked about her love of England and how it inspires her; “I was always drawn to London, even when I was a student living in Serbia. I liked this slightly punk-y, against the system, style that designers created there.” Along with the very English The Pre-Raphaelites movement; "Combined this sense of classicism and a desire to create something new. Therefore I have always been fascinated with them. As you see, I am always coming back to this idea of newness. I’m trying to develop it through my work. Clothes are there to tell stories visually. It’s visual, but the story is always there."

Roskanda has also looked up to British Designers such as; Vivienne Westwood and Alexander

Prof Louise Wilson, the MA course director at Central Saint Martins - who has taught stars such as Alexander McQueen and Christopher Kane, and gave Ilincic a place on the acclaimed degree course when she first arrived in London in 1999- sums it up succinctly: "Roksanda Ilincic is a woman who creates for women."

Spring 2013 Ready To Wear.
I think this is my favourite collection of Roksanda's as it is feminine with a twist, using bold colours such as orange alongside sheer plastic floor length dresses.

Matches.

"Launched in 2002, the London-based designer creates modern show-stopping party pieces with everything from vibrant cocktail dresses to floor sweeping silk-satin gowns, while her signature use of bold colour, contrast and sumptuous drapery is utterly unmistakable."

I really like love this collection as it is very classic and chic but with a bold twist with modern fabric such as patent leather.