Iris van Herpen Catwalk Fashion Show Womenswear FW2016

Where does reality end and do dreams begin? Or are we all just living in a dream? The subject of consciousness has often been a source of inspiration for designers. As it was for Iris van Herpen’s collection ‘lucid’ she presented in Paris today. For fall the Dutch designer explored the concept of lucid dreaming (within a lucid dream, the dreamer is conscious of the dream state and therefore is able to exert a degree of control on what is happening). A process which Iris often experiences herself while draping her creations. “When I design, the draping process most of the time happens to me unconsciously. I see lucid dreams as a microscope with which I can look into my unconsciousness. In this collection, I have tried to bring my state of ‘reality’ and my state of dreaming, together,”
she stated. An interesting starting point.
Seventeen large optical light screens on the runway created some kind of optical illusion, mirroring both the audience and the models and delivering an experience both intimate and poetic. Unlike at any other straightforward fashion show the audience’s point of perspective constantly changed, created just that feeling of not knowing (un)reality. Were we looking at a reflecting or a real model?
Fashion wise Iris used two different design technique, coming up with laser cut lucid looks (for which she collaborated with Philip Beesley) that are connected with translucent flexible tubes, creating a glistering bubble-like exoskeleton around the wearer’s body and phantom dresses, created made with a super light tulle to which iridescent stripes are fused, shimmering the silhouette illusory. Fashion forward as Iris is, she once again worked with on some 3D pieces, creating a dress stitched from 5,000 3D printed elements (a true work of art). Silhouettes were voluminous and feminine, the color palette a range of nudes, green and grey. And even if you leave out all of the above, forget that source of inspiration, put aside those futuristic techniques, you were simply looking at a selection of absolute stunning designs.

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