Yiqing Yin Spring Summer Couture 2013

Chinese-born French designer Yiqing Yin delivered an avant-garde collection, channelling Russian architect Naum Gabo’s kinetic art influences through a number of her pieces. The collection saw dresses sculpted from thick, dark red ropes, through to delicate numbers with contrasting thread-work hanging on the body like second skin – reminiscent of the blood-pumping network of veins that keep us alive.

Yin maintained the decorative and constructed display with skilled pleated constructions via intricate silhouettes ranging from two-piece suits to plunging mini-dresses. The notable theme of thread-work extended as far as partially covering models’ faces with long silver strands right through to the finale – a shredded shroud encasing and transforming the model into an almost otherworldly being.

Images courtesy of fashionising.com

My piece above is published on www.theglassmagazine.com where I contribute regularly.

Jean Paul Gaultier Spring Summer Couture 2013

There was not a trace of doubt about the theme at Jean Paul Gaultier’s couture show – with the catwalk bathed in warm amber light, guests seated in sections named after famous Indian dishes and Edith Piaf’s song La Vie En Rose in Hindi played in the background, it was clear inspiration was drawn from the exotic – India.

It was a case of two different worlds – quintessentially Parisian couturier meets the spices of the East – gracefully colliding into one another.  The collection began with a tight colour balance before swiftly bursting into a fanfare of flame, saffron and chartreuse. Patchwork gowns, lavish embroideries and Indian style layering were all present, as were some of Gaultier’s trademark pieces – the trench coat in shimmering gold snakeskin and of course the Blonde Ambition corset.

While Gaultier did not necessarily break new ground, he did have one surprise up his sleeve for the finale – the bride’s structured overblown skirts lifted to give birth to four sweet little children.

Images courtesy of style.com

My piece above is published on www.theglassmagazine.com where I contribute regularly.