Grimaldi Giardina: Fashion Takes A Philosophical Turn
By Mari Davis
Photos by FW

PARIS, Jan 19, 2004/ FW/ --- It will take two Roman designers for fashion to take center stage and take a philosophical turn.

Rome-based designers Grimaldi Giardina used the runway at the Salle Wagram to philosophize that “fashion is the vindication of character and freedom of expression.”

Go figure!

It is not to say that it was not a good collection. In fact it is a delightful study of elegance and beauty.

As the designers said in their press notes, fashion is “an x-ray of the soul, whose soft tones heighten the purity and highlight the heart, which have become a symbol.”

With that, they sent models on the runway wearing either beige or off white, sometimes ecru, with the fabric so light, they look like they are gossamer butterfly wings.

The designer though called the dresses “kites,” which floats freely in big cabanes circles.

And on a play on religion, the design duo likened their mini-skirts to “sacred cloaks and portray the woman as a saint preserved in a baroque church of Southern Italy.”

It might sound like a play words, but the models really did look virginal in their white and delicate miniskirts.

Adding an eastern flair, the Grimaldi Giardina then tackled origami, presenting an altered gypsy skirt using the traditional Japanese art as basis. A corset became a patchwork of this dainty Japanese art.

Their palette was subtle, sorbet colors of pink, lilac, sky blue and champagne together with ecru and white.

And as homage to mother earth, the designers used wooden clogs instead of traditional leather for shoes.