Paris Fashion Week: Veronique Branquinho, Costume National and Junko Shimada See The Future
@ 10:28 pm March 1, 2008Filed under: Paris, Runway Shows
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PARIS, Mar 1, 2008 / FW/ — Three designers from three different part of the world unveiled three different visions of fashion for Fall 2008 in Paris but they agree on one thing – Veronique Branquinho, Costume National and Junko Shimada are all looking to the future.
Maybe it’s because Ridley Scott’s 1982 movie ‘Blade Runner’ just came out on HD for its 25th anniversary celebration. Perhaps, it is finally dawning on everyone that we are on the 21st century, and the future is truly now, not just sci-fi predictions like in 2001: Space Odyssey.
That though many sci-fi writers predicted gloomy futures because of technology, Gene Roddenberry’s vision of Star Trek, i.e., man and technology can actually live together is nearer the truth.
Today, futuristic collections that would look sci-fi even just 10 years ago do not alienate; in fact, they are described as extraordinary yet plausible, even covetable.
Veronique Branquinho
Veronique Branquinho, who is celebrating her 10th anniversary in fashion with an exhibition in her native Belgium, departed from her usually ‘nature-inspired’ collections and opted for techno fabrics, lurex, nylon and treated leather.
Models sporting French-braided hair wore jackets and tops with square shoulders that look like futuristic armors. Though not necessarily from Star Wars, the combined spirits of Princess Leia (the cornrow hair) and Queen Amidalah (for the very pronounced shoulders), this collection is about a strong woman.
Yet, like Princes Leia and Queen Amidalah who were never damsels in distress, they also did not isolate themselves from other women and also from men because they came on too strong. There is a certain vulnerability built in with all that strength, that makes the collection endearing.
Costume NationalWith the collection entitled ‘Galaxy Couture’, one was almost expecting galactic amazons to walk the runway. But, this is Ennio Capasa, wherein everything might look simple but truly, they are complicated.
A high molded collar continues to become a pleat on the bodice to give the hourglass form of a woman; and then the pleat disappears into the pencil skirt that ends just above the knee. The total look is completed with knee-high patent-leather boots.
But, if you are suspecting that this is techno, actually it is not. Ennio Capasa used the traditional luxe materials of organza, silk and velvet, then mixed them with environmentally friendly fabrics like bamboo.
Ennio Capasa likes his women strong and that includes having a strong sex appeal. Capasa’s vision has always been a little bit on the futuristic side; but this time, he made the perfect balance of still being rooted to earth while looking at the stars in search of a new planet.
Perhaps, that’s where the title ‘Galaxy Couture’ came from; it was more figurative than literal.
Junko Shimada
Inspired by the heroines of ‘Blade Runner’ the 1982 movie by Ridley Scott, Junko Shimada imagined sharp and sophisticated looks that are emblematic of the femme fatale with a futuristic twist.
Known for her vision of dressing women like silver screen goddesses, Junko Shimada did a 180-degree turn this season by leaving Hollywood except that she was inspired by a movie.
And quite frankly, this is one of the strongest collections she had unveiled in recent memory. (for photos please go to Junko Shimada: Blade Runner Revisited)
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[...] Paris Fashion Week: Veronique Branquinho, Costume National and Junko Shimada See The Future [...]