SAUNDER Fuses Historical Literature with Fashion

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Looks left to right — Mantle dress in orange & navy; Aragon dress with Dalmatian Bomber

SAUNDER, designer Emily Saunders, presented its A/W 2015 collection at Ed’s Chowder House at The Empire Hotel. Her looks are tributes to Hilary Mandel’s historical novels “Wolf Hall” and “Bring up the Bodies”, both telling the behind the scenes story of Henry the VIII’s split from his 1st wife Catherine and subsequent split with Rome.

FW15 EMILY SAUNDERS

Rochford skirt & Flight Jacket

The collection is rich and textured with many nods to traditional Anglo fabrics such as tweeds and tartans. The silhouettes sway from romantic and feminine to masculine tailoring, tied together by a thoroughly modern take on Tudor fashions and times.

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Lady dress in eggplant

There are some stunning jewelry/accessories pieces that have been styled with these various looks. MEGAN ISAACS for SAUNDER marks the fourth collaboration with the accessories designer. Also inspired by the fashions and times of Henry the VIII, there is a focus on mixing textures and materials using hematite, pearl, and stud, like motifs in gold, silver, and gunmetal plating.

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King of Hearts dress

There are a lot of eye-catching prints throughout this collection. The pieces are also infused with colors and tones that work well with the underlying concept, but also the a/w season. It’s refreshing seeing pops of vibrant orange and sunshine yellow. But the rich colors pair well with seasonal faves such as navy blue, olive green, and black.

FW15 EMILY SAUNDERS

Castle sweater

Emily has always had a deep love of art, travel, and fashion. This always enriches her work, giving her such a unique take. SAUNDER is committed to quality craftsmanship, and you can see that in every piece. She sticks to her signature work here, encapsulating the essence of femininity, but with quirky eclectic twists.

FW15 EMILY SAUNDERS

Plaid blouse & skirt

Emily saw the stage adaptations of these historical novels while in England this past summer. She was thoroughly inspired and decided to create her own fashion adaptions. She has done an amazing job here making these tales come to life, fashion-wise. There are looks from a more RTW stance to that of more formal pieces. These are some beautiful creations that modern, romantic fashionistas would be thrilled to wear!

FW15 EMILY SAUNDERS

Boleyn gown in yellow

Presentation credits —

  • Models & Agencies — One Management, APM, Major Models, Red, Marilyn Agency, Q Models, & Click

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Blue slouch trousers, tie neck blouse, and spike studded jacket

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FW15 EMILY SAUNDERS

Pearl raglan top & aragon skirt

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Heraldic gown

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Wolsey dress in black