Isabelle Ballu - An Explosion in the Lab
By Timothy Hagy
Photos by Javier Mateo
PARIS, Oct 4, 2002/ FW/ --- If there were a Grand Prize awarded for poor organization,
it would surely go to Isabelle Ballu, whose show last Thursday at the Pompidou Centre was
what the French would refer to as "une catastrophe".
After enduring over-zealous security, a delayed start of nearly an hour, an underground space
with the ambience of a morgue, and then a sound track that blasted loud enough to wake the
dead, guests were then presented a collection that could only be diplomatically labeled
as a major disappointment.
While it is true that fashion needs experimental design, and especially those hearty souls
willing to take risk, there is little to say when the lab blows up in public.
And today's lackluster collection did just that.
Among the works presented were pants flared at the hips resembling a jockey's habit, then split
up the side; overall-like pant suits, the back cut treacherously low, and accompanied by
purses with a paint roller handle.
And then there was an array of shapeless dresses that more resembled surgical gowns than
evening attire.
But the highlight was a set of swim suits that appeared held together by giant straps
of scotch tape, and sporting a G-string cut that verged on X-rated.
In general, the female silhouette was obscured by a draping effect that had the undesirable
result of making beautiful women look unbecoming.
Not all inventions fly, and that was proved over and over again.
Anyway, there's always next season, and a new set of blueprints.
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