Christopher Kane

Christopher Kane has created a deep internal conflict within me. His blatantly nostalgic, uncompromisingly singular, and utterly ridiculous Fall collection is a marvel simply in its power to place a giant question mark over my head. A sort of granny-meets-ugly-carpet section opened the show, already challenging the idea of taste. These looks were nostalgic in a homey, crochet way, but were just the beginning. What came next was the dominant section, featuring mainly black dresses featuring multi-colored plastic squiggles that looked like a child's dream science project. For me they recalled Lisa Frank school supplies, gel pens, and those odd, water-filled plastic blobs that slipped around in your hands if you squeezed them. Kane's specific memories included a special pencil box he had in high school. Tavi has cited Fruit Roll-ups. Tasty. Whatever the case may be, it penetrated the granny section and was seen through the end section, a sequined-out batch of sheer dresses. The overdose of humor was jolting at first, but entirely refreshing. While there was a significant presence of childhood (exposed breasts not included), there was also something vile about it. Vile in the sense that these dresses were toxic. Perhaps that's why I feel so uneasy about assessing the collection. Kane seems to have some kind of spell on the fashion crowd. Even Anna Wintour sings his praises. He certainly has something. His work doesn't usually fall outside a specific and rigorous theme, but often works. Are we fools or is this man a talented artist? Perhaps it's both.

Azul Caletti

Marique Schimmel

Samantha Gradoville

Jourdan Dunn

Siri Tollerød

Sara Blomqvist

Jacquelyn Jablonski

Kirsi Pyrhonen

Alana Zimmer

Azul Caletti

Emily Baker

Marike Le Roux

Mirte Maas


Photos via style.com