aestheticcontradiction

MCRFW AW 14

This season, Manchester fashion week will be introducing an independent designer showcase and I’m really excited to have been selected to take part.

Aside from a great opportunity for my label, Eustratia, and the other designers, I think it adds edge to the event, which previously showcased mainly high street fashion and draws attention city in general, giving Manchester a chance to show off the talent in its midst.

My showcase date is Saturday the 19th of April and I will be showing my A/W 14 collection, inspired by nature and the dark shadow mankind casts over the planet. Tickets are £16.20 and can be purchased here.

As part of the online promotion for the event I was featured on A-listed magazine‘s “designer talk” section and the official MCRFW blog.

You can view them on the respective sites but I have also pasted what they wrote on here.

Designer Talk

Eustratia

Sam Saeed

Dark, sultry and dangerously seductive.  There is something incredibly enchanting about ‘Eustratia’. Like something out of a fairy tale, designer Stacy Mavrou talks about her collection as a clash between fashion, fetish and art.

Beautifully handmade, with the ultimate attention to detail, Stacey works with latex amongst other fabrics to produce wearable and unique pieces.

At the age of 3, Stacey was taught to sew by her Greek Grandmother, also a seamstress. The name of her collection ‘Eustratia’ also resonates with her Greek heritage meaning  ‘good’ or ‘right’ path.

Her talent passion and ambition grew over the years – Stacey recalls how she simply had her bedroom floor as a studio and a grant from the Princess Trust which enabled her to pave her career as a reputable Manchester based designer.

Stacey added: “I enjoy trends and fashion but I prefer clothes that are versatile and can be carried forward from season to season, I therefore aim to achieve a unique but timeless quality within my work”.

This season, Stacey has been inspired by nature, contrasting textures and colours and the dark shadow cast over earth and mankind.  The much anticipated collection due to be released at this year’s Manchester Fashion Week 2014 #MCRFW14 will feature a muted base palette with contrasting textured or embellished panels, a multitude of layered appliques featuring contrasting textures and pops of colour.

You can learn more about the brand and view all previous collections at Eustratia.

Eustratia

http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/we-are-manchester-tickets/111839

Eustratia will be showcasing at MCRFW14 on Saturday the 19th, get tickets: (above)

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Eustratia are an upcoming fashion
boutique specializing in Latex clothing, lingerie and accessories. The creator behind the clothes;
Stacey Mavrou

Below are some images from the Lookbook! For all you fashion forward ladies!

Ticket Web MCRFW

These stunning lingerie pieces are not only very ‘out there’ and extremely cool, they look amazing on! If you want to see more of their gorgeous latex clothing they are having an event!!! On the 21st March, From 10pm onwards:

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Shoes for fashion week.

My friends and I are attending LFW again in a couple of weeks and I’ve been looking for the perfect pair of shoes to take with me. We’re going to be out almost all day so I need something stylish yet comfortable for walking around and standing in queues in. This is why I’ve opted for chunky heels and platforms.

shoes20141. Melissa, peace wedge £45, nonnon

2. Jeffrey Campbell, O-Quinn $185

3. Yes, milky way $215

4. Jeffrey Campbell, Busted Sold out in most places but I’ve found a pair in my size on ebay for £125, not really ideal but we’ll see.

5. UNIF, Salem boot $190, solestruck.

6. Jeffrey Campbell, Tardy, £125 serenza.co.uk

7. Yes, Galactic in red leather $215, solestruck

8. Vivienne Westwood Melissa £99.00 ASOS

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Eustratia Open house event.

Next month, to celebrate the third birthday of my label, Eustratia and officially test out my showroom I’m hosting my first open house event.

open house 1 flyer

The whole house will be open to friends of the brand, models, photographers and potential customers who will be able to view and try on samples, preview the new collection, talk to me in person and find out about upcoming projects.

Regular Eustratia models will be available to talk about wearing latex to those who haven’t tried it before or would like to know a bit more about it.

Our friends from VAUHAUS will also be in attendance with beautiful new faces to introduce and a guest photobooth by Toria Brightside, agent and chief photographer.

Richard Ayres will be showcasing his bespoke chainmail accessories and visitors will have the change to see it in person and talk about about commissions.

TG Manchester promoter Frankie Knuckles will also be making an appearance for those who would like to find out about future events.

I will be inviting creatives that have collaborated with the brand over the last three years, local models, photographers and industry people as well as a few magazines but the event is also geared towards potential customers who want to find out more about the brand or latex clothing in general. Please get in touch if you can get to Manchester and would like to attend. The address will be available on the Facebook event page and there will also be transport available from Piccadilly train station at 2:30pm to bring people to the event if they are not local to Manchester.

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Persephone lookbook shoot

I can finally share the lookbook images from my most recent Eustratia collection, Persephone. Persephone is my first lingerie range and I’m really pleased with it, I think all the outfits are equal, despite their differences and I really couldn’t choose a favourite. I chose the name to reflect the half dark, half light element or range and the natural influences that occur throughout.

This shoot was brought together by an amazing team and I’m very lucky to have had them all on board, especially since I pulled the shoot together in a short amount of time.

persephone banner2Images: Ian McManus photography

Model: Victoria Fairbrother

Hair: Johnny Scissorhands

MUA: Seth David Rodriguez

Some styles are already available to purchase on the site and the gallery can be viewed here.

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Accessory moment no.4

This look revolves mostly around the bun hair. It’s not a style that I wear out very often so I wanted to see if I could make it look a bit more special.

What I used:

1. leather cuff (used as hair tie) £5 -NO:WEAR camden

2. Clock part necklace -ALL SAINTS (not current season)

3. Studded cross hair clip £18 -Eustratia (www.eustratia.co.uk)

4. Spikey bracelet £18 -River Island (not current season)

5. Bird cage ring £12 -TOPSHOP

6. spike earrings £6.50 –ebay

I think putting the leather cuff around the bun really made a difference and gave it an edge.

 

I get asked about this one a lot. It’s a little pierced cherub creature (wings on back) was a gift a friend brought back for me from Tokyo. I made it into a long necklace because I think it brings a bit of fun to my outfits. I haven’t seen anything like it in the UK and most people react quite strangely to it.

And finally the full outfit.