Animal Trends
I’m an animal. I like animals. I actually look like an animal.
Tight-lipped lizardy look-alikes and the bouncy ‘butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-my-mouth breed of models steal the show this season; inundating this seasons most alive trend.
This season has been no exception to the unwritten rule of fashion – ‘do what you can to amuse, shock, confuse and entertain.’ The boundaries of normality have been stretched to create a variety of collections which are startling and fierce, unpredictable and resilient. McQueen, Chanel and Marc Jacobs have created pieces that are so effervescent – they make you wonder what the little design minions are fed.
McQueen set his infinitesimal models stomping down the catwalks with a look that could kill- quite literally. How the models could see out of their deeply furrowed brow is almost miraculous in itself, never mind how they managed to walk in their ever so imposing ‘shoes’. His savage designs are challenging – forcing the observer to question their own taste - why step out in jeans when you could wear a largely caped shouldered creation? The patterns were innovative, combining animal prints with textures to create a look that screams ‘I am as close to an animal as a human will ever be’ – the should-be caption of one of this seasons most warped trends.
The desire for their creations to be eulogised, and to have Anna Wintour leave the show and say ‘that model bore an uncanny resemblance to a bow-legged deer’, was echoed by Chanel, who exhibited their collection in a space set out to imitate the wild woods. The bright-eyed beauties appeared and circled around trees, sometimes barefoot, and sometimes even smiling. Their make-up was fresh and minimal, allowing the focus to be safely rested upon the designs and the show as a performance. The colours were mild, exploiting marshmallow pink, winter white and a buttery beige. The tailoring was, typically of Chanel, painstakingly flawless.
Karl Lagerfield has given Chanel a rather expensive make-over, handing the brand a youthful pizzaz, and allowing it be talked about with the same fear of the unexpected that McQueen is, well almost. Not one to miss a beat or a button – Mars Jacobs is a perfect compliment to this trend. Whilst many of his models were analogous to freaky woman – not the Lady Gaga sort, but the sort you can imagine lounging around in Clockwork Orange, some of them carried a bird-like grace. Perhaps it was the taut-faced blonde, who sauntered down the catwalk wearing a ruffled creation that alluded to the feathery creature look. The ruffles, trimmed with lace and beads were harmonious with the tousled collar she wore around her neck. Though the dress design was perfectly feminine but stringent, her look was savage. Another of his looks exhibited a sea-blue silk two-piece – possibly torn of an exotic mermaid and wrapped around another taught model.
This trend has been explored with an admirable versatility this season. Credit is due to the whole creative team at each of the brands – for creating a show that could very well be a zoo procession, the high-end type. It’s a combination of the set, the models, the accessories and of course the designs that add the animalistic quality. Not to mention the hair and make-up, which completely defines the look. While many catwalk trends are quickly snapped up by your average Amy, I think this one may take a few adjustments before Amy heads out to buy her first feathery creation…
Hattie MacAndrews
All pictures thanks to style.com
