HC – Bertrand Guyon. Schiaparelli AW15

July 6, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

Who is Bertrand Guyon? Formerly of Givenchy and Christian Lacroix, Guyon’s most recent post was held at Valentino. And now he is the creative director behind Schiaparelli, succeeding Marco Zanini. As I wrote a year ago when Zanini had his second collection at this historic fashion house, Elsa Schiaparelli legacy and style is so strong and so intense, that it is nearly impossible to lead the brand in symbiosis with her signatures and the designer’s personal style. For his first show, Bertrand and Schiaparelli studio presented a rich in embroideries collection, full of luxury textiles and embellishments. “Midnight velvet dress”, “gold-embroidered brocade suit” – the titles of each look from the brand’s ambassador instagram, Farida Khelfa , sound major. But by looking at all that mind-blowing beauty and craft, I can’t see any Guyon’s identity. More of fur? Sleeker silhouettes? No one knows. However, I am excited what the next season will be like with this mysterious designer. Hopefully its going to be more clear.

Fire. Miu Miu RE16

July 5, 2015July 6, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

Paris was on fire yesterday! And not just because of the weather. Miu Miu had its Resort 2016 staging in a “Miu Miu Club” and Miuccia Prada truly outdid herself. The models, which looked like cool girls who “club” on Friday nights, wore layers of polos, python leather jackets and circle-shaped earrings which brought the mood of 80’s. And, yes, the logomania is on. The elongated t-shirts and cowboy boots had big, neon coloured MIU MIU all over them. Also, there was a throwback to Miu Miu’s summer 2010 collection – naive, youthful prints of cats and swallows were on mini-dresses and A-lined skirts. Fun, fun and fun. That’s how Miu Miu is described by Signora Prada. Definitely, today’s fashion needs some fun. And Miuccia approves.

Proportions. Sacai RE16

July 5, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

Over-sized yoga pants. Masterful layering. Smart fabric usage. This is what Chitose Abe of Sacai offers us for Resort 2016. Volumes, which remained fearless in the matter of sweaters and dresses, is as always a signature of this Japanese brand. In addition to all the familiar A-line variations and balloon-bomber jackets, Chitose explored longer lengths in this collection, whether with modern-day transparency or in the same manner as her chic collars. This new, easy softness will not go unnoticed among those who admire but feel overwhelmed by Sacai’s unusual, but comfortable silhouette. A great collection with great clothes – and with great styling.

Men’s – Kurt. Saint Laurent SS16

July 2, 2015January 6, 2016 | Design & Culture by Ed

Kurt Cobain. Courtney Love. These two names were audible during the recent Saint Laurent collection by Hedi Slimane. Hedi is famous for making crap looking clothes super expensive, but this time he went too far – the wardrobe for his SS16 men and Resort 2016 women is having a lot in common with today’s teenagers which fancy skating, alcohol and wild parties. And, Kurt Cobain eternal messy style, which might be cool only if its natural. Ripped denim (which looked so tattered that I nearly thought they were taken from a “too cool for school” person); every 14 year old’s must have chokers; chunky, slouchy cardigans. The worst? The styling, or rather lack of any styling. This what Hedi does now at Saint Laurent is purely about giving people back their clothes from adolescence , but in extreme prices. Is it fashion? Is it style? I suppose not.

Men’s – Louis XVI Today. Comme Des Garcons SS16

July 2, 2015January 6, 2016 | Design & Culture by Ed

Rei Kawakubo and Julien d’Ys are a perfect creative couple. She is designing clothes full of intelligent innovation which is in perfect symbiosis with history of fashion. He is the “hair artist” who does mind-blowing head creations. Comme des Garcons for men’s SS16 is an explosive fusion of Louis XVI nostalgia and extravagant modernism. This season, d’Ys created towering neon yellow bouffants, a striking contrast to Kawakubo’s collection of revisited suits – which saw trousers slit down the legs, jackets with their collars removed or silhouette unexpectedly severed, and shirts that hung in tatters. For the hair d’Ys was given free hand by Kawakubo to take the direction he wanted. “I have to have freedom,” he says, speaking after the show. “If somebody said to me ‘OK, I want that’, then I can’t do anything, I can’t! I’m completely frozen because I have to be very free and I have to love the person that I work with.”