Graham Tyler creates garments that tell complex stories about human incessant and nostalgia. All of his beautiful tapestries, hand-painted textiles and delicate embroideries tell of dreams and conversions alike. The themes of his garments often bring up past/present ideas and various cultures. His pieces are all done in shades of grey, black, and white.
Graham Tyler was inspired by Vampyr, which is an early Danish film from 1932. He has a background in millinery and is a sculptor. He has created designer hats for celebrities and had his spring 2020 collection based on Mary Shelley’s style from the 1830s through the 1840s. He looked into her collection in the library and infused her life and letters into the clothing.
For Graham Tyler’s spring 2021 collection, he focused on the intricate reworked garments using his signature tailoring. The white shirt is at the base of the collection. Some garments included are poplin shirt dresses, leather outfits, and jacquard sets. We can definitely appreciate the neutral color palette and each look stands out on its own to express individuality with minimal effort required.
Tyler highlighted that fashion is meant to be fun and bold. He also designed the collection with American style in mind, we see many familiar pieces that have been part of many American wardrobes over centuries which can be appreciated. Masculine and feminine suiting featured intricate tailoring, pleats, high-waists, pinstripes, and prominent shoulders. The dresses offered chunky belts, distressed details, ruffles, and can easily be layered with a t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, chunky knit, or turtleneck.
While NYFW was different this year than most, Graham Tyler taught us that there is timeless beauty and significance in a classic, structured styles. Now more than ever, we revert back to elements of nostalgia that help us appreciate past, present, and future which was all truly reflected in the SS21 collection.