Fide Fashion week Part 3: A Fantasy Finale
PUBLISHED December 17th, 2012 01:00 am | UPDATED May 9th, 2018 03:13 am
Well you know what they say, all good things must come to an end.
With the Champagne stocks of Singapore, I imagine….dangerously low! (seriously, I’m quite concerned…who is taking care of this?!) let me run you through the feast for the eyes that was the last two days of Fide Fashion Week. However before we proceed, this is as good a time as any to confess to a real ‘groupie’ moment I had when faced with the effortlessly glamorous Jeannie Mae, who had been hosting and applying her social media savvy to the week’s events. If you’ve seen her on the style makeover show ‘How do I Look?’ you’ll know that unlike all stylists who present these kind of shows, she always looks insanely good (which one would imagine is imperative when you are influencing another person’s style, but invariably, is not always the case!). Anyway, after my slightly shy and bashful introduction, I can happily confirm that she is as charming and kind as she is fabulous.
Day 5
Christophe Josse opened the night with an understated yet deeply elegant collection entitled ‘Opulently Uncluttered’. To call it simple would be unforgivable as the detail was present and exquisite, but although he shied from exuberance, the overall effect was sumptuous and chic. Although the words ‘wearable’ and Haute Couture seem to be entirely incompatible, his collection was skilled yet restrained, and as a result, exuded a lady-like elegance that one could imagine wearing. I particularly loved this dress which resembled snakeskin creeping up from the ground, almost mid-transformation.
Atelier Gustavolins continued the understated mood with his collection which had an equally simple elegance. His focus being less on embellishments and more on the sculptural form and architecture of his designs. The fluidity of his gowns was more impactful due to a simple colour palette and luscious jewel tones, highlighted in textural contrast by bold fur shrugs.
Last but by no means least was Alexis Mabille and his Autumn-Winter 2012/13 Couture collection, where he envisaged women as jewels. As he explained, ‘…when he opens his jewel box, captivating visions emerge, their multiple facets revealed by lights. Precious and stately, these muses impose their charms – naturally attractive even in the rough’
His collections have a youthful energy to them and a girlishness represented by his seeming love of the bow and its recurrence in his collections. Although unarguably grand and luxurious, there is always a pop of colour or an irreverent detail somewhere which makes it a little playful. As a side note – Â the headpieces were insanely beautiful, where can a girl get one?
Day 6
After last night’s understated elegance, on aura tout vu by Livia Stoianova and Yassen Samouilov ramped up the flamboyance for the Fide Fashion Weeks closing show. Born out of a world of fantasy, the abundance of colour, bold shapes and a hint of naughtiness through the use of sheer fabric conjured up something visually arresting and quite magical. Fur, feathers, crystals, ruffles and rhinestones were used in abundance, it was decadent and provocative, and a perfectly-fitting end to a week that pushed fashion’s boundaries.
As the final model emerged flanked by two male models dressed as Centaurs, it is fair to say the the audience was suitably enchanted.
On aura tout vu, translated means… you think you have seen it all. Perfect! What an excellent sentiment and fitting way to end a week of visual trickery, skill and beauty….
…. I got lost in a dream of tulle, silk and diamonds and it was wonderful nourishment for the soul.
Huge thanks to Jansen Siak at WomComm and his team for inviting us to be their guests and to everyone involved in Fide Fashion Week. See you next year!
Written by Heh Zee
