 fashionUK | |
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| fashionUK | |
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| Flynow by Chanman |
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Click through the pictures if you have Netscape 3.0: if not go here to see them. |
Thailand's Chamnan Phakdeesuk's 'Hybrid' show was a riot of ideas and cross-cultural influences. It began on a subdued note with the catwalk bathed in a warm orange glow, but within minutes all sense of calm was destroyed as a series of bizarre fashion statements were unleashed to a gobsmacked audience. There were heel-less shoes and boots (made by Kos K and designed by Chamnan),as well as electric blue fake fur stoles and muffles. Incredible sleeveless jackets and coats which left the arms trapped behind fabric both amused and bemused the audience.
Models wore painted white faces dabbed with circles of pink rouge and huge bird's nest wigs (with additional plaits) creating a psychotic Edwardian look. Thai gods appeared printed on faux sheepskin coats, jackets, waistcoats and Lycra dresses. Oriental prints were used on dresses reinforcing the Geisha girl theme while lurex and sequin dresses offered glamour for the evening. Slim-fitting tailored shirts were given a space-age feel with the addition of peaked fabric on the shoulders. Trousers (silk black parallel hipsters and dark green worsted wool variations) were a strong feature. Puffed sleeves on fitted jackets and tops added a surreal touch. The colour palette was inspired by artist Gustav Klimt (Chamnan joins Tomasz Starweski in citing Klimt as an influence for their collections) and included rich purple hues, orange, blue, silver and gold. This is only Chamnan's second ever showing at London Fashion Week and while many left proclaiming its genius, some felt as though a lunatic had been let out of the asylum.'Hybrid' rocked. |