Why Paula Knorr is the most exciting new designer to know about
The London Fashion Week designer has collaborated on a range of unmissable partywear with Modern Rarity
The party season is fast approaching, and the scenario none of us want is to turn up to an event in the same outfit as someone else. Cue Modern Rarity’s new collaboration: a capsule of directional partywear by London Fashion Week designer Paula Knorr.
Knorr’s ruched shimmer dresses with batwing sleeves, asymmetric LBDs in flattering jersey and sparkly palazzo trousers are unlike anything you’ll find on the high street, guaranteeing that much-desired exclusivity. But even more than that, they’re designed with women of all shapes in mind. ‘I use “real” bodies to see how my designs look, so I’m always inspired by the actual person who wears it later on,’ says the German-born designer.
As a woman designing for people with busy lives – not just catwalk fantasies – Knorr says: ‘I think fashion can get a bit too fairytale sometimes, and so even in the sparkly and glamorous world of eveningwear, there’s still a moment for reality and empowerment. You feel really comfortable when you’re wearing the collection and that’s always an absolute goal for me.’
The styles created for Modern Rarity don’t differ wildly from the designs Knorr has shown during London Fashion Week over the past three years. ‘I was impressed by how open the John Lewis design team were,’ she admits. ‘I took a lot of details from my more avant-garde pieces and basically created these new designs out of them in a soft jersey.’
Helen Prior, Partner & Senior Designer for Modern Rarity, had been watching Paula for a while to see how her signature evolved. ‘We loved her soft but striking femininity and the modern elegance of her silhouettes, created through her unique pattern cutting,’ she says. ‘We felt that it resonated with the Modern Rarity brand ethos for a feminine and modern wardrobe. It’s been great to inject some fun into the brand, especially for Christmas. Although the dresses are quite a statement, they are easy to dress up with heels – and the tops can be paired with jeans for a more relaxed look.’
Knorr’s eponymous ready-to-wear line is stocked by luxury retailers around the world. She follows in the footsteps of previous Modern Rarity collaborators palmer//harding, Eudon Choi and J JS Lee. Stay tuned for a summer offering.
