Forest couture

Fall inspires new fashion trends around the world, and Sri Lanka is no exception with ODEL giving local fashionistas an opportunity to experience the 'forest couture' that is dominating runways in the fashion capitals of the world, with the launch of two new collections featuring dark and gloomy designs rich with earthy tones that take style lovers back to nature.

As the characteristic winds blow over the island keeping the season's kites aloft in the skies, Sri Lanka's leading fashion retailer unveiled its new fall collections at a spectacular fashion show at the Atrium Lobby of its flagship store at Alexandra Place on Friday, September 4. Themed 'Into the Woods', the show leads into new store décor and imagery that evoke the auras of autumn.

The new Odel Fall collections were modelled in four fashion segments and the show ended in a grand climax that highlighted the 'Fairy Forest' theme of the main collection, with a whimsical vocal performance by the dynamic choristers of Voice Print.

The main collection features designs inspired by exotic birds, trees, foliage, embroidered botanicals, winter blooms, ditzy floral heads and folk florals in colour combinations using earthy tones like green, brown, black, white and orange.

Dark florals, lace and textural elements have come together as the fabrics for this collection which is representative of global designers such as Ellie Saab, Chloe, Antonio Marras and Alberta Ferreti.

A mini collection themed 'Winter Nomad' features prints and textiles, bold tribal motifs, multi coloured patterns and nomadic aesthetics, with the principal colours being black, ashen, steel blue, teal, lava rock, fire ball and baked clay.

The launch of Odel's Fall 2015 collections is supported by an ultra-artistic, ethereal and trendy visual campaignalso titled 'Into the Woods' with a unique twist that emphasises its resonance with the latest fall fashions on international runways.

"We take great pride in providing Odel customers with the opportunity to be in sync with the latest global fashion trends, even if Sri Lanka does not have a distinct fall season,"said Ms Desiree Karunaratne, Group Marketing Director of Softlogic Holdings, under which company the Odel retail chain operates. "Fashion is a global language, and the excitement of a new collection is best captured through a glamorous fashion show of the calibre expected of Odel."

Pictured are some of the highlights of Odel's Fall 2015 fashion show.