Twenty8Twelve’s Spring/Summer 2011 Show

Twenty8Twelve’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection seemed to divide the audience: those who appreciate the literally ready-to-wear nature of Sienna and Savannah Miller’s eclectic mixture of bohemian and exotic pieces, and those who questioned the place of a label more aptly labeled contemporary amongst the well-established ready-to-wear designers.

For sure, Twenty8Twelve’s collection will be a commercial success come spring, with the nostalgic, flouncy dresses, a shearling jacket, lacy skirts, and prints that, according to Sienna, were inspired by the hill tribes of Thailand. The pieces also showed greater experimentation with design, though everything remained cute and unoffending. And while Sienna is quick to clarify that her sister Savannah is the real designer behind the label, Twenty8Twelve bears the unmistakable stamp of Sienna’s envied knack for one-of-a-kind finds in vintage shops and markets of little traveled international destinations.

However, some critics point out that the youthful Twenty8Twelve seems a little out of place in London Fashion Week amongst names like Vivienne Westwood and Pringle of Scotland.  While the Miller sisters remain aware of the criticism, they seem to brush it off with a confidence undoubtedly buoyed by commercial success. Savannah explains, “We feel like it has a right to be in London Fashion Week because girls have been wearing it."

Still, the question remains -- should a high profile designer and good sales merit a place on the runway, or are these labels diluting the purpose of the London Fashion Week?

Photo source: WWD.com