I love crazy couture. I wish that I was more of an attention hog. I could stroll down the street in some incredibly artistic, meticulously and compulsively detailed, bat-shit outfit. Alas, I prefer to glide through my days observing rather than participating in conversation. Its not that I'm unfriendly. It's just that I've always been more of an introvert, much to my own dismay.
I was cruising the coverage of the 2010 couture shows. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed in the lack of insanity this go round. Where were the mad metallic bucket hats and voluminous dresses like those at Dior Spring 2008? (my favorite of this past decade) or the crazy "hair" hats of Jean Paul Gualtier's Fall 2006 show? Couture week definitely felt the absence of Christian Lacroix and his abstract impressionist gowns in which he seemed to just splash colors and textures together.
Though it was a little difficult to pick out my favorites due to the "Ive seen that already" nature of this seasons shows, without further ado....
Armani Privé - Though it looks a little like bubble wrap, the theme of the show was based on lunar references. I love the shape of the dress...look out, it's a full moon.
Christian Dior- John Galliano took a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and decided to go the equestrian route. The only problem was, at first glance, I thought to myself, Ralph Lauren did this similar theme for his ready to wear show in Spring of 2008. I look to John Galliano for the extreme and not even giving the Kentucky Derby style a Dior cut could make me swoon. It could be that his past shows were just so amazing, even he has a hard time topping himself. However, I did love the colors and textures and wouldn't turn down this coat if Galliano sent to me. I'm just saying...
Or these shoes....I love the army green paired with bright colors. It inspired me to buy a fuchsia scarf and army green scrunch gloves.
Jean Paul Gualtier - This is my favorite piece out of all the slides I viewed. I love the way JPG took tropical plants, leather and other strange materials and braided them into bags, hair pieces and even dresses. Some looked a little macrame- summer camp project, but the detail on this dress is bright and intricate along with the leaf bag. I cant tell if its leather made to look like plants, or an actual plant. Ahhh, clothes that make me think!
Valentino - It's always a go-to if you want to be covered in ultra feminine colors, bows and three- demesional florals.
Light and flowing pink sheer booties top off the look.
Chanel - I struggled with this one. Does it seem to anyone else that Chanel has been a f*ckfest of Karl on Karl action? He has to throw in his own look of black tie, white shirt, black jacket in every show. Are the models grey streaks in the hair a tribute to Karl too? Okay, we get it. You're cool.
And while we know Coco Chanel's signature was mutli-colored tweed, the saturation of knock-offs over the past couple of years and "Chanel-like" jackets and skirts from Forever 21 to Kmart has me thinking that particular suit should be shelved for a while and brought back when my 3 year old niece is old enough to buy one of her own. Sure, Karl did coulottes instead of skirts, but I wanted to see a bit more innovation, especially at couture week where budget shouldn't matter and anything goes.
But I do love this 1930's style dress with a draped opening to reveal the brocade underneath.
Josephus Thimister- hes a veteran though you might not recognize the name. The very literal theme of his first show in over a decade was based on blood shed and militia. While some pieces were blood red paired with neutral army green, I loved the interpretation of these "weaponry" gowns.
