Insider Tips: Gemma A. Williams

By Holly O'Neill
06th Sep 2016

Do you need help with?navigating?your way through the new collections? Here, we get four fashion savvy shoppers to offer you a teaser of their AW wish lists. Next up on our list is Irish fashion curator, researcher and consultant?Gemma A. Williams.

GEMMA A. WILLIAMS

Gemma A. Williams began her career as an archivist at Alexander McQueen, before becoming a curator at the Fashion Space Gallery at the London College of Fashion. She now specialises in fashion curation, research and consultancy, and consults for Shanghai Fashion Week. She is author of Fashion China (Thames & Hudson, about €18).

WHICH TREND ARE YOU COVETING?

Velvet, in all its guises. It’s such a luxurious, tactile fabric and so flattering. Until this season though, it was surprisingly difficult to wear it without feeling like a 1970s or 1920s throwback.

MOST EXCITING DESIGNER INTERPRETATION?

There are so many. I think Preen by Thornton Bregazzi does a fun job exploring innovative ruching. I love Valentino’s yellow velvet dress worn on the catwalk by model Dasha Khlystun – it is so effortless, yet the cut and colour looks fresh and bold. Aganovich hones a more gothic side, offering some exquisite cut-out necklines and slashed, flowing skirts, while Antonio Berardi incorporates 1970s lacing with chiffon insets. All are absolutely sublime.

HOW SHOULD WOMEN SHOP THE NEW SEASON?

With attention to detail. But when there are so many trends vying for attention, it’s challenging. Focus on buying into micro-trends.

ARE YOU INSPIRED BY IRISH DESIGN?

I love what Richard Malone and Danielle Romeril are doing and I’m looking forward to Michael Stewart’s graduate collection, but we’ll have to wait almost a year to see it!

YOUR FAILSAFE INVESTMENT BUY?

A Comme des Garc?on blazer – classic with a twist, it will never date because it’s ageless.

GEMMA’S KEY PIECES

Yang Li‘s grey mini dress with ripped sleeves. His use of pink check is also phenomenal. I love the statement silhouette of Junya Watanabe‘s panelled neoprene jacket. The denim pinny from Each X Other is on my wish list, and I’d adore Y/Project’s uber-slouched faded jeans. Chunky boots are a big trend this season so Prada’s Chelsea boots are a must. And Anna Sui’s embroidered velvet belt will be the perfect accent.

Gemma A. Williams

Velvet wrap dress, Y/Project, €1,513 at farfetch.com 2. Embroidered velvet belt, Anna Sui, €223 at net-a-porter.com 3. Three button blazer, Comme Des Garc?ons, €1,422 at farfetch.com 4. Panelled neoprene jacket, Junya Watanabe, €1,950 at Havana 5. Patent leather Chelsea boots, €590 at Prada

See Gemma and our other stylish insiders in the IMAGE Magazine September issue; on shelves nationwide now.