London Fashion Week: Pringle of Scotland AW16
Gone are the argyle knits and stiff upper lip we so often associate with this brand and in its place a laid-back – but luxurious – easy to wear Pringle of Scotland AW16 collection. This was Fran Stringer’s debut collection as Pringle’s new womenswear design director (previous positions saw her at other British heavy-hitters Mulberry and Aquascutum), and it seems as though she’s the answer to bringing the fashion house into the 21st century.
This is Pringle of Scotland, so the collection was unsurprisingly almost entirely made up of knitwear, from olive green mohair two-pieces to mustard yellow rib-knit tube dresses and white sleeveless jumpers that came complete with waist-tie. Stringer gave another nod to the brand’s heritage with rich, dark tartan found in dresses, high-waist trousers, shirts and fur-sleeved coats.
The contemporary touches were found in the details; the wool bodices stitched on to jumpers, shirts and dresses; the D-ring straps fastening together jackets; and large, almost face-covering roll-neck jumpers. The relaxed, slightly oversized shapes definitely helped. Sleeves covered hands, trousers came loose and cropped, dresses were body-skimming yet thick and with an air of sensibility rather than tight body-con, and skirts fell just above the ankle.
