Hanae Mori: On Butterfly Wings
By Timothy Hagy
(Photos by Reuters)
PARIS, Jul 12, 2003/ FW/ --- Hanae Mori has a thing for butterflies.
Their motif flitted in vibrant green onto a striped black crepe pantsuit.
They were printed red and gold onto silk jackets and they turned pale pink on an embroidered
chantilly lace dress.
The insect wings certainly caught the attention of the ladies who sat front row, drinking
in the bright colors of this classic couture and ticking off a list of lunching outfits.
To harp glissandos, the show opened in the Hotel Bristol with a set of tapered suits.
Daywear eventually turned to eveningwear, as in a black satin and chiffon dress spangled
with crystal, or skirts of printed blue chiffon.
Some of the pieces are worthy of the Oscar red carpet, proving once again that Hanae
Mori has not lost her touch, nor her nickname, 'The Doyenne of Japanese Fashion.'
And if we stop and think that if not for that chance encounter with Coco Chanel in 1960
while doing a suit fitting, the world would have not seen Hanae Mori's brilliance.
According to Hanae Mori, her chat with Mademoiselle Chanel has invigorated her, and gave her
the push to pursue her dream in designing haute couture.
Fifteen years later, she was showing her collection in Paris, and has remained eversince.
As the only woman, and the only Japanese person to be elected to show Haute Couture by the
Chambre Syndicale, she in turn sponsored Lebanese designer Elie Saab as an invited member
this season.
Hanae Mori on the runway
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