Edited by Lester Brathwaite on
For his Fall 2011 show, Manish Arora had a magician on hand who through acts of prestidigitation and legerdemain (TRICKS!) conjured models out of nowhere, sawed them in half and even took them through the fire. But the real spectacle was on the runway, where Arora’s woman walked (beautifully) an almost nonexistent line between animé and Blade Runner.
The Indian-born designer is tapped to revive the Paco Rabanne label next season — a name perhaps best known for 90s cologne and designing costumes for the Jane Fonda classic, Barbarella. But in Manish’s nimble hands, Paco has got nothing to worry about. Arora’s clothes are fantastical and inventive, utilizing colors usually only seen in acid trips and/or Saturday morning cartoons.
Yet despite their adventurousness, the clothes are beautifully executed, very wearable and very feminine. Could everyone wear a neon fur skirt or whatever’s happening here?:
Probably not, but if anyone dears to wear it, imagine how insanely great they’ll look. Or just how plain insane. Either is equally intriguing.
Photos: Style.com
I was center square from 1969 to 1978, during which I perfected the art of the zing as well as a crippling cocaine addiction. Bea Arthur was responsible for both.
@LesFabian
lester at fashionindie.com