Although a devotee of fashion, London based designer Charles Anastase began his career as an illustrator, landing jobs as elusive as a 2004 Calvin Klein advertising campaign. In August 2008, Anastase’s venture into fashion was made easier after he secured a five-year production agreement with Italian agency, Pier spa. Anastase’s “ethereal and often nostalgic collections are born of the desire to capture the beauty of the 19th century Victorian images, which have captivated him since childhood. Reminiscent of the demi-couture, which was the zeitgeist of this period,” the silhouettes that Anastase has become known for evoke a certain sense of naivety, yet still showcase the construction of a Savile Row tailor. Anastase’s fall collection plays with an unusual refined sense of filth creating a collection of Victorian grunge. Flannel gets updated with ruffles and a shirttail, while a slim fur coat sports cropped sleeves. The idea of Victorian grunge is quite fitting for a modest season overwhelmed by the economy.
