While 2010 may be the year of minimalism fueled by Phoebe Philo for Celine, it is however (at least to me), so much better to see colours and prints rather than camel and beige for Spring. And it was exactly what Marc Jacobs was all about for Spring 09. There were so many references in this collection, so many cultures, so many different identities, so many characters, so much colors and prints. Mary Poppins goes to Dubai, Japanese artisan meets Parisian florist, King and I set in Calcutta, or a Yves Saint Laurent Ballets Russes collection redux, as Nicole Phelps put it, there were so many interpretations to this collection, all quirkier than the one suggested earlier. This collection was a perfect statement on how far imagination could take you.
While each look was styled (very perfectly) crazier than the last, the collection still felt very coherent. The mish-mash of different cultures were able to gel together: while layers and accessories were distinctly different, each look was topped (literally) with the craziest straw hat ever conceived. It was just incredible to see the coming together of a variety of prints, fabrics, and colours for each look, and while it is usually not the easiest to pull off, the geniosity (is there such a word?) of Marc and his team of stylists managed to make it look so effortless. Take for example, the first look from the second collage: it brought to mind kimonos and geisha, but given an European twist and definition in the form of a jacket and knee-length skirt, and held together by a cummerbund-sash-obi-belt, accessorized with chunky necklaces (very artisanal, I thought), the dopiest shades and finished with a cute little straw hat. Now just imagine the story behind this look, or if you have the time, for all 53 looks.
The truth be told, it was very hard selecting the looks for this collage. I'm a hoarder, I guess and when I like something, I would love to get my hands, or in this case, show everything. There wasn't much thought when putting together the collages, but come to think of it, each could tell a story of its own. The first with the background of Paris (I imagine a Chinese immigrant in the City of Lights), the second a photo of Florence (to me, a place where art flourishes and originated, perfect for imagining any of these women strutting their stuff down one of the back alleys), the third a photo of flowers and bicycle (a bicycle, VINTAGE BICYCLE, HOW VERY APT! And flower complementing the metallic floral prints of Jourdan Dunn. HOW VERY APT AGAIN).
It was one of the happiest, feel good moments of fashion.
Background photos are from this amazing flickr album by an amazing photographer called Natasha.
