Bonded by fashion
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Spring is an awakening that brings out fifty shades of frisky in fashion and this season is shaping up to be no different. Perhaps it’s the confluence of a certain erotic tome on the best seller list and the dabbling in fetish begun a few seasons ago by Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton, but late photographer Helmut Newton is suddenly a touchstone for a few designers.
Jason Wu turned out a vampy leather-and-lace collection for ladies who lunch (and crack the whip), inspired by the ’70s and ’80s stiletto sirens in Newton’s work, combined with the softer image of femininity from lenswoman Lillian Bassman. Looks in a palette of lingerie hues ran the gamut from pin-up shorts with a floral applique blouse to a goddess gown in nude liquid jersey over a black leather bustier. Sexy.
Peter Som was pretty in punk. The designer worked some ’60s couture shapes in Monet waterlily shades in an ironic way, subverting the flounces, bows and florals with color-streaked hair and mixed metallic kitten heels. Debs gone downtown. As Cyndi Lauper used to say: Girls just want to have fun.
