Vibrant Embroidery Meets Playful Silhouettes: A Bold Play of Craft and Creativity – The Adele collection 2022

By Seun Emmanuel

This collection is a celebration of craftsmanship and daring design, taking bold risks in both structure and detail. It’s a trio of striking looks, each showcasing the designer’s distinct approach to fabric manipulation and silhouette, while pushing boundaries with playful proportions and vibrant color schemes. There’s a sense of theatricality in the collection that makes it stand out, although not every look quite hits the mark.

The first piece is a lively embroidered corset paired with a voluminous black mini skirt. The craftsmanship in the corset is extraordinary, with intricate, colorful embroidery that seems to pop right off the fabric. The floral motifs, rendered in rich reds, yellows, and blues, are meticulously detailed, evoking a sense of traditional artistry that contrasts against the more modern, structured silhouette of the corset itself. The black skirt beneath, voluminous and layered with tulle or organza, creates an almost fairytale-like shape. This combination of traditional embroidery and contemporary silhouette works beautifully—the fitted corset accentuating the waist while the voluminous skirt adds drama and flair.

It’s a powerful statement piece that manages to marry historical detail with modern aesthetics in a seamless way.
While the second look, a minimalist white silk shift dress that plays with proportions in a subtler, more restrained manner. The dress itself is a flowing, loose garment that embraces comfort without sacrificing style.

Made from a luxurious silk that catches and reflects the light, it moves with the wearer, giving off an ethereal quality that is further enhanced by the oversized, billowing sleeves. The silhouette is kept simple, but the voluminous sleeves provide just enough interest to make this piece stand out. It’s a clever play on proportion—balancing the simplicity of the body of the dress with the exaggerated sleeves, creating an understated elegance. However, the looseness of the dress could feel too shapeless on some body types. A little more structure or tailoring around the waist might have elevated it from a nice piece to a truly show-stopping one. Still, the fluidity of the silk and the lightness of the fabric make it a refreshing counterpoint to the collection’s other more structured looks.

The final piece is by far the most dramatic—a bodycon pink mini dress with oversized, exaggerated bell sleeves that dominate the silhouette. This look is a bold exploration of form, with the sleek, fitted body of the dress providing a striking contrast to the wide, voluminous sleeves. The sleeves themselves are almost theatrical in their execution, creating an unexpected silhouette that demands attention. The sleek, skin-hugging material of the dress flatters the figure, but it’s the sleeves that truly steal the spotlight. They extend outward, creating an almost wing-like effect, adding a layer of drama and movement. However, this boldness comes at a price—the exaggerated sleeves, though visually interesting, risk overshadowing the dress itself. The proportions feel slightly off, and it’s easy to imagine the sleeves becoming cumbersome to wear off the runway. A more tempered version of the sleeves might have maintained the drama without overwhelming the wearer.

The fabric choices throughout the collection are well considered, with each material playing an important role in the overall effect of each piece. The embroidered corset stands out for its use of rich textures and bright colors, while the tulle-like fabric of the black skirt adds a sense of lightness and movement. The silk of the white shift dress is luxurious and fluid, creating a sense of ease and comfort, and the material of the bodycon dress is perfectly chosen for its figure-hugging properties, ensuring that the form stays sleek even as the sleeves expand dramatically. While the fabrics largely work in harmony with the designs, the collection could benefit from slight adjustments in material, especially with the sleeves of the pink bodycon dress, which might have benefited from a more flexible or lighter fabric to reduce their overpowering presence.

In the end, this collection is a bold exploration of contrasts—vibrant embroidery against minimalist forms, structured silhouettes against playful, voluminous shapes. The embroidered corset and skirt combination is the clear highlight, showcasing the designer’s skill in balancing craftsmanship and modern design. The white shift dress brings a softness and ease that contrasts beautifully with the more theatrical looks. The pink bodycon dress, while dramatic and attention-grabbing, could use a little more balance in its proportions. Still, the designer’s willingness to take risks and push the envelope is commendable, making this collection a memorable exploration of fashion’s potential for drama and elegance.