Who doesn’t love a little parody, a surprise reveal, or even a political statement or two with their latex couture? We have made inroads like this at a WOW show or two, creating backstories for our creations and certainly, we’ve been involved in runway shows for places showing specific exhibitions, even plying a cause or two. But beyond our forays into this area, or what other latex designers attempt at a runway show or even a fetish event, it seems lots has been going on during Paris Fashion Week than just the usual haute couture coming from world-class designers.
Dare we say, are these designers catching up with us alternate fashion ones?
Independent Italian fashion brand Simon Cracker Milano managed some satirical swipes during the first week presenting an ‘upcycled’ collection. With coed threads created from deadstock items, a sure tongue-in-cheek jab at Hermes’ expensive Birkin bag, tweed separates, and pieces recovered from dry cleaners, to name a few places, the designers here said that they “we are making fun of wealth,” with what they showed.
What is being called “dystopian chic” was revealed by Rick Owens. Models walked in platform boots, jackets sporting wide collars, and wraparound sunglasses resembling visors. But the star here was singer FKA Twigs showing off a partly shaven head, bleached eyebrows, and temporary face tats, wearing a gold ensemble of older Owen’s couture, including jacket and mini dress. The true eye-catching accessory though was a pair of the designer’s $6000.00 boots that bowed accordion-like as FKA Twigs climbed the show’s staircase.
Junya Watanabe seemed to take a jump off from classic American hunting wear. The Japanese designer’s models entered the runway in jeans, caps, and check shirts, but all too soon there were splashes of color reworking the hunting aesthetic into something surely much softer. And not to be undone in this style, Louis Vuitton, men’s creative director Pharrell Williams with designer Nigo, collabed on a line merging the couture of chefs and gardeners with the sportwear.
Yes, we’ll have more to report in part 2, when the week is pretty much nearly over. So far though, there’s been lots of interesting looks and some sure statements, but no latex.
