Soft warrios

 

GIVENCHY S/S 2011 HAUTE COUTURE

Last thursday, Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci held a private presentation at the Hotel Evreux on Place Vendôme, which felt like the best (and most traditional) way to admire the intricacy of couture pieces. The collection is influenced by Japanese history, and more precisely by the work of Kazuo Ohno, a traditional Butoh dancer. The silhouettes interweave both male and female influences, such as large frontal knots alongside geometrical necks and sharp patterns, poking both at women’s kimonos and costumes Gundam fighters.

Traditional techniques such as hand sewn crane birds are place alongside geometrical 3D embroidery; organza dresses intermingle with angular sequin appliqués. A similar balance operates in the duality of the colours: eye-grabbing boleros cuts, often reduced to dominant shoulder pads, are made of luminescent orange and pink sequins, arranged to resemble fish scales – these are contrasted with limes, white-pinks and citrus tones on silk, chiffon and organza.