Henry Holland: fashion, fun

By Laura Atkinson

Henry Holland is bringing the fun to Fashion Week. You’ve probably heard the name – best friend of Bury-born supermodel of the moment Agyness Deyn and teen magazine fashion editor turned designer who came up with the big crossover hit of 2007: the slogan T-shirt. What you might not know is that these days, Henry's fashion line, House Of Holland, is about as far away from his T-shirts as possible.

In fact, they don't even feature in the new collection, which premiered in an insanely packed show at Fashion Week yesterday (13/2). Instead it’s all stars, impeccable tailoring, gorgeous prints, and, er, antlers. Yes, Henry is now a Proper Designer, but one with a wicked sense of humour (as a fellow ex-teen mag writer, I can vouch for the fact that Henry used to come to work every day dressed a bit like Timmy Mallet). In a world overloaded with jumped-up fashionistas, it's lovely to see someone having the time of his life, creating something exciting, unpretentious and fun. As Henry and Agyness took to the stage at the end of the show, her in massive oversized antlers and a tartan wedding dress, with the audience whooping and cheering, it became apparent that Henry's clothes are there to put a smile on your face.

Have a look down there at the first ever Lipster slideshow, crammed with hot catwalk snapshots (ie a bit blurry but “gritty and real”). You see that lady in the fourth picture, turning around? That’s Henry’s mum, that is.




Eight things we learned at the House Of Holland show (and party afterwards)

1. Henry Holland is a big Clueless fan. Mini-kilts in the HOH purple tartan and crop tops were, like, totally all over the show (which, incidentally, was fun, sexy and camp). As Cher/Alicia Silverstone would say: bitchin’.


2. Fashion types can lose their cool and get over-excited – before the show began, chants of “Henry, Henry” started. No, it wasn’t Henry’s mum or his PR – it was Alexandra ‘editor of Vogue’ Shulman and Hilary Alexander.


3. Celebrity watching might not be cool but it’s bloody good fun. We lost all inhibitions and had a nice stare at: Kelly Osbourne (in a lovely silver dress), Jefferson Hack (fitter than expected) Sophie Ellis Bextor (smallest woman in the world) and Erin O’Connor (hotter than expected).


4. Greasy spoons are the new after-show venues. We all bundled into Gina’s Restaurant on Bethnal Green Road. White wine for 26 people and a bacon sarnie: £30. Bargain.


5. Everyone will be wearing eye-patches come next year – not because Henry is channelling shit pop singer Gabrielle, but because poor Aggie Deyn has a nasty eye infection. Eek.


6. Bow ties are huge. No, literally. The male HOH models wore the biggest bow ties possible, in a Minnie-Mouse meets Timmy Mallet kinda way.


7. A lot can happen in a year and a half – just 18 months ago Henry was writing about Chantelle from Big Brother’s wardrobe for a living. Blimey, etc.


8. All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey is always guaranteed to get everyone dancing – even po-faced fashion twats.


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