From The Straits Times    |


The colourful models in the final walk at the Thomas Tait Autumn Winter 2014 runway. Credit: Wesley Kow

The models were in a big hurry. They speeded down the runway as though rushing for the bus in a show that would only last nine minutes. Oh but what a treat those nine minutes were.

I welcomed the quick pace. The Thomas Tait show was last on the schedule of the fourth day of the Audi Fashion Festival. With each show before it delayed by at least an hour, the originally timed for 9.30pm show was pushed to close to 11pm so it was a relief to see the models and designer in a rush too.


The product of the designer’s release of creativity. Credit: Wesley Kow

Tait has been known for his impressive outerwear and minimalist look but this is a young man who’s not afraid to explore the possibilities. In our earlier interview, Tait divulged that the Autumn Winter 2014 collection is different design wise, “I noticed that usually in the creative process, there’s so much of a focus on me to edit and clarify what I’m doing while I’m working on it. There are moments of panic when I look at the sketches and pieces being developed. Everything’s too messy and nothing makes sense so I start to get anxious about it and constantly clean things up.”

“But this season, I don’t want to feel that anymore. Don’t want to see anything in a clear way. I want to feel that I’m not fighting against an instinctive feeling. There’s also no running order to this collection, usually I design a collection with a specific order I want to be presented. This season was all over the place, liberating to be working in a way that I embrace the way it makes no sense. So many colours and textures are involved in the collection and understanding that and not being afraid is a release,” explained Tait.


Stripes and primary colours. Credit: Wesley Kow

The release of Tait’s creativity made for a specular show full of colour. First, the jackets and coats have to be commended. The eighties power shoulder shape was slightly rounded but still had enough volume to create an hourglass silhouette with perfectly nipped in waists to contribute to the modern look. The London-based designer colour-blocked perfectly with contrasting inserts to conserve the quality of his outerwear that his critics love.

Despite Tait’s creative freedom for the season, there was still an order to the madness. He maintained neat stripes of rainbow colours interspersed with thick black stripes and nipped and tucked to create some delightful dresses. Even when obvious stripes weren’t in play, there was some sort of clear pattern happening. I got to see up close his mastery of folding in amazing skirts that were pleated and a pair of pants with an extra fold detail.


Structured vs flowy, colours vs black. Credit: Wesley Kow

Tait also designed the pointy boots that formed a complete harlequin-joker look with the painted eyes that also bordered a sci-fi feel not unfamiliar to his creations. Although the lurex curve hugging tops were one detail that I felt could have been done without, they were soon forgotten when the one-shouldered clingy dresses appeared.

The one-shouldered look from the front morphs into a semblance of a cross back to reveal a lot of skin from the back, and had me marveling at his amazing design mind. I applauded the structured bodices and colourful dresses with apron straps that left nothing much to imagination in the back.

The Thomas Tait Autumn Winter 2014 runway show took place at Audi Fashion Festival 2014 at the Tent @ Orchard, on May 17, 2014. For more information on Thomas Tait, go to www.thomastait.com. Follow the brand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Thomas-Tait and Twitter @Taitthomas.

Audi Fashion Festival 2014 is happening from May 14 to 18, 2014. Tickets are available at sistic.com. For more information, go to www.audifashionfestival.com. Get updates on AFF 2014 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AudiFashionFestivalSingapore, on Twitter@AudiFashionFest and Instagram @AudiFashionFest and by following the hashtag #affsg