NEXT COUTURE BABES IN TOYLAND

PHOTOGRAPHER OF DREAMS, TIM WALKER TAKES US TO A FAIRY TALE TOYLAND FOR HIS STORY FEATURED IN W MAGAZINE APRIL 2014.

''ALL DOLLED UP AND NO PLACE TO GO'' IS THE PHRASE THAT BEGINS THE STORY 

FULL OF EXITING COUTURE PIECES. 

                       

VALENTINO SPRING 2014

VALENTINO DESIGNERS MARIA GRAZIA CHIURI AND PIER PAOLO PICCIOLI GOT INSPIRED FOR THEIR LATEST COLLECTION BY A VISIT TO THE ATELIERS OF THE ROMAN OPERA. 

THE COLLECTION CONSISTED OF 73 DIFFERENT LOOKS, FULLY EMBELLISHED WITH BYZANTINE- INSPIRED  EMBROIDERIES. A THICK BURGUNDY HEADBAND STUDDED WITH GOLD MEDALLIONS KEPT THE MODELS HAIR BACK TO KEEP THEIR FACES CLEAR.

ELEGANT, STRICT LINES CHARACTERIZED THE SILHOUETTES BUT REAL CRAFTSMANSHIP WAS NEEDED TO DECORATE THE PIECES WITH WEIGHTY BEADWORK AND COUTURE-LEVEL FOLKSY DECORATIONS.

MISIA

PHOTOGRAPHER GIAMPAOLO SGURA PAYS HOMAGE TO MISIA SERT IN HIS PHOTOSHOOT FOR THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF VOGUE GERMANY.

CODIE YOUNG TRANSFORMS INTO THE FAMOUS PARISIAN FIGURE WHO WAS HOSTESS OF AN ARTISTIC SALON, MODEL AND MUSE FOR THE LIKES OF TOULOUSE- LAUTREC AND RENOIR AND GOOD FRIEND OF COCO CHANEL.

THOM BROWNE IN NYFW SS14

FASHIONABLY DISTURBING.

50 MINUTES WAS THE TIME THE AUDIENCE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE THOM BROWNE SHOW TO START AT NYFW SITTING IN A WHITE CHELSEA GALLERY WITH PADDED WHITE WALLS, HEADLESS PLASTER BODIES HANGING FROM THE CEILING AND FLICKERING LIGHTS.

BROWNE, A DESIGNER WHO IS KNOWN FOR HIS ABSURD AND THEATRICAL SHOWS, CREATED A 25 MINUTE SHOW THAT GAVE THE FEELING OF AN INSANE ASYLUM.

FIRST OUT WERE THE NURSES, IN STIFF WHITE LACE AND PADDED HIPS, OFFERING DOSSES OF WHITE M&MS IN LITTLE PLASTIC CUPS WHILE MARCHING THROUGH THE ROOMS OF THE SET.  THEN THE MODELS/ PATIENTS FOLLOWED MADE UP WITH WHITE FOUNDATION  AND SMEARED RED LIPSTICK, LIKE HEATH LEDGER IN ''THE DARK KNIGHT'' AND COTTON CANDY HAIR.

BUILDING DRESSES AS IF THEY WERE ARCHITECTURE WITH THREE- DIMENSIONAL FABRIC APPLICATIONS. FINELY PLEATED SILK, CAGES OF WHITE LATTICEWORK AND FINE LACE CONSTRUCT WHITE HOBBLE DRESSES AND CORSETED JACKETS WITH HIGH COLLARS. WHITE LATEX AND RUBBER ACCESSORIES WERE ALSO PRESENT STRESSING THE CLINICAL/ HOSPITAL FEELING OF THE SHOW.

IS THE COLLECTION A METAPHOR OF THE FEMALE EXPERIENCE? SOME SAY YES.
THE MODELS WALKED ALMOST AWKWARDLY IN COUTURE THAT  WAS INSPIRED BY THE ELIZABETHAN ERA WITH DRESSES THAT COVER AND RESHAPE THE BODY IN AN EXAGGERATED FEMININITY, INFINITE DETAILS AND OVER THE TOP SHAPES.

TAKE A LOOK!

PICTURES BY:  DAZED AND CONFUSED AND VOGUE.