Julien Macdonald Shows His Metal
Written by: Godfrey Deeny
Photos by Gruber-FWD
LONDON, Feb 26, 2002/ FWD/ --- Ah, so that's why they hired him as couturier at Givenchy.
Julien Macdonald - the Welsh Versace - reverted to what he does best in his fall 2002
signature collection shown Thursday in London - va-va-voom, high-octane sexy clothes with
gallons of glitz and bravura.
Further, the designer almost single-handedly revived an endangered species here -
the supermodel - which, apart from Erin O'Connor and a single appearance from Kate Moss,
has been absent from London runways this season.
Julien opened his show with the decorous An Oost in dazzlingly bright golden culottes and
a fox fur bolero, stepping out in front of a backdrop composed of a massive red velvet
curtain, gold tassels and a B-movie-looking shiny back wall.
Cristina Cruz followed shortly, dolled up in the same big hair that made Sharon Stone in
"Casino" look like a nun.
Macdonald has clearly learned a few tricks from his Paris job designing for Givenchy.
His fur coats, mesh stoles in mink and loosely woven cocktail naughty dresses had a couture
finish to them.
Better still, the awkward restraint seen in Julien's couture debut last year in France
has been abandoned in favor of a more defiantly sexy look.
Think early Roxy Music album covers meets Las Vegas.
With David Bowie's "Rebel, Rebel" pounding out of the soundtrack and Rupert Everett sitting
front row, the designer unleashed rock star red carpet looks like a glittering jumpsuit of
light, asymmetrical chain mail-like dresses worn with vampish riding boots, and O'Connor in
a leather bustier frock coat with train.
It was all way over the top, even vulgar at times. But the clothes had energy, dash and
oodles of sex appeal, all of which has been lacking in the dullest London season in eons.
Everyone left the tent on the West Lawn of the Natural History Museum with a smile on their
faces.
And when was the last time that happened this week?
Julien Macdonald
Julien Macdonald
Julien Macdonald
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