John Ribbe Fall 2006: Buttons & Buckles Zip Up
By: Mari Davis
Photo below: John Ribbe on the runway, Spring 2005.
Photos courtesy of John Ribbe

PARIS, Feb 26, 2006/ FW/ --- The first day of the shows in Paris is always reserved for emerging designers, and at the Louvre tonight, John Ribbe proposed a black & white dressing for Fall 2006.

As his press notes said, ‘The John Ribbe woman is colorful, her clothes are colorless. White, black, silver metal and just a splash of bright red, purple and yellow’ will make up her wardrobe.

The silhouette is tailored; the pants slim, the dresses are short, reminiscent of the mod era and the 1960s sci-fi film ‘Barbarella.’

Metal buttons and buckles accentuate wool gabardine, cashmere, silk, wool knit and transparent jersey, acting as couture elements as the garment is transformed from classic to avant-garde.

It’s buttons here, buttons there and buttons everywhere – from the neck where metal buttons were used to create a sheer effect, to the bodice where these shiny snaps were used to mark the darts and curve the shape, to the skirts were they lined the boxed pleats and on the sleeves put there just mere adornments.

The double breasted coat dress were opened front and back, the front classical with its covered buttons, the back was constructed like a riding coat but open all the way to the neck wherein you can close it using the now ubiquitous metal buttons.

Then the Barbarella looks came with the silver boots and long sleeved A-line dresses, this time trimmed with straps and buckles. An empire dress was created, and a semblance of open seam work using the ½” mini belt as the closure.

And just when you thought that you’ve seen it all, John Ribbe changes the tempo, this time sending zippers as part of the trousers, opening up right on the ankle to create bell bottom pants or the zips were lined up horizontally wherein depending on whether they were opened or close, the length of the garment goes from long to short.

With the use of buttons, buckles and zippers, John Ribbe was successful in changing the silhouette right before our very eyes. But, the multiple variants became repetitive at some point, losing the interest of the audience.

Nevertheless, it was truly interesting how John Ribbe dressed the outfits like a piece of jewelry, and in turn suggest that a woman can create several fashion statements with just ONE dress.

Spring 2005 Photo courtesy of John Ribbe

Fall 2007 Photo by FW

Website: www.johnribbe.com

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