Recap: Despite the shockingly bright colours, there was a cold mechanical feel to Prabal Gurung's Spring/Summer 2014 RTW collection. Models walked deadpaned with their lips painted as perfectly as a mannequin's. It was as if the models were robots made to seem more human through their clothing. They stood in two stiff lines behind a wall of glass, which resembled storefront windows, and slowly emerged one-by-one to parade in front of a group of shoppers. This stark futurism was futher emphasized by the sharp cuts, severe off-the-shoulders, and bowties that weren't floppy, but rather cut to be as severe as a metal blade. The (forced) infusion of life came in randomly placed feathers, screen-printed PVC, sheer panels and haphazard embellishment. Whether this collection was a comment on how clothing cannot conceal who we truly are inside, or a critism of the cold-hearted robotism of fashion, or done for just plain fun, Gurung's creativity is what really stands out.
Verdict: I first took notice of Gurung when he showed sheer pants with metallic purple "acid" dripping down the legs for Spring/Summer 2012 (I still want those pants so badly), and since then, I've been keeping an eye on him. He lags slightly in his Fall/Winter collections, but his Spring/Summer collections are always strong. There's a uniqueness in his designs that is so distinctly Gurung - bold, abstract patterns, unashamedly bright colours, and stark cuts and lines that work to befuddle the mind. This season, he once again proves he has promising potential.
Watch the full show here.
Image Source: Style.com
It is amazing to see the futuristic transformation of fashion. Such use of materials aside from just fabrics is a complicated invention but gives us a vision and possibilities of not to limit fashion's resources. Prabal Gurung is surely making a major step-up!
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