Ungaro: An Impressive Lesson from a Master
Written by: Godfrey Deeny
Photos by: Gruber-FWD
Paris, Jan 22, 2002/ FWD/ --- It felt like an ode to the whole profession when Emanuel Ungaro
presented his inspirational spring-summer 2002 haute couture collection Monday morning in Paris.
Ungaro called it an "Ode to Liberty" in his program notes, clearly aimed at doomsayers like
Pierre Berge, who have been predicting couture's demise.
"The history and nobility of haute couture is very much alive in this day and age since it is
the absolute embodiment of excellence in this unique metier. "
"Nothing and no one can prevent the birth of new talents in the multi-faceted world of artistic
expression," Ungaro proclaimed.
True to his word, Ungaro then sent out one of his most exotic collections, which journeyed
through Rajasthan and Asia to finish up in the Pacific with a wondrously sexy bride in a
bouffant-feathered skirt and clinging top held up by seashells.
And what a difference a few supermodels can make. Ungaro, who previously favored lesser-known
catwalkers, this season sent out the heavy artillery - Naomi, resplendent in a black silk
chiffon and lace column, preceded by Gisele Bundchen, Jacquetta Wheeler and Alek Wek in
Ungaro's multi-colored creations.
In short, they did deserved justice to a beautiful, vibrant collection.
It could so easily have been just too much with all the patchwork bustiers, belts dangling
a hundred charms and competing prints.
Except for the fact that in the hands of this master couturier, the line was impeccable and
silhouette cut with elan.
You could easily envisage this master on his knees in his atelier, pinning and re-pinning
hems and folds endlessly on a fir model in his never-ending search for perfection.
The very last thing anyone had on their minds as they exited this show was that the couture
is a terminal case. Anything but!
Emanuel Ungaro
Emanuel Ungaro
|
