haus of mclees exuded sensuality

There seems to be a rise in conservatism amongst Gen-Z. Whilst hemlines are growing longer and  once exposed skin is increasingly covered, my generation often opt to spend their evenings on the sofa as opposed to getting out on the town. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but that’s what makes Haus of Mclees all the more exciting; they’re not conforming to traditionalism; they’re continuing to prove that sex sells. 

It’s early evening on a Saturday night in Shoreditch (one of London’s few remaining major nightlife  hubs), and Haus of Mclees has just brought Protein Studios to life with loud music, a party  atmosphere and seductive clothing. Think Victoria’s Secret without the gimmicks, just beautifully  crafted garments that exude sensuality without verging into vulgarity.  

The collection, entitled ‘RETANUS’, was derived from a book which founder Mclees Mantegazza  produced during her master’s degree, exploring the experience of losing oneself to the darkness,  before confronting that vulnerability and being reborn. The opening model embodied this notion,  

stepping out into the darkness, clothed in a hooded lace robe with feathered cuffs, before  dramatically revealing the seductive set and beaded headpiece which lay beneath.  

The intricate beadwork was the shining star of this collection; an element which was inspired by the time Mantegazza spent with her Grandfather on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.  Today, she has taken that initial inspiration from her heritage and merged it with influence from  festival culture, culminating in garments that embrace both the past and the future.  

The colour palette was largely limited to hues of black and white with metallic shades intertwined  within. That was, until the final look, during which the pearly white sequinned dress was adorned  with splashes of colour, right there on the runway. Nothing excites a fashion crowd quite like  watching a garment quite literally being created before their eyes, and this was no exception, with  every phone in the venue firmly fixed on the spectacle. 

What really set the show apart was that whilst it was unequivocally sexy, it didn’t for a moment feel catered towards the male gaze. Model Heaven Adejugbe; who walked the runway in a white flowing skirt and beaded bodice; expressed that the clothes made her “feel so confident and  beautiful”, which is precisely the feeling they are supposed to invoke. Sexiness can, at times, be misconstrued, but Mantegazza and her team at the Notting Hill atelier demonstrated that women can embrace their bodies in a joyful way.