Attend a he Manish Arora fashion show is a truly colorful, creative and lively spectacle. And this new show was no exception, in the Salle Wagram, which has regained its splendor since its renovation.
The lights go down and a few strange notes break the silence. The first chords of the THEREMIN finally put an end to the wait, sounding the start of the parade. Musician Marc Chouarain “plays” this rare instrument, composed of two antennae creating a magnetic field that interacts with his body. The first silhouette appears wearing a top covered with color-changing LEDs: Manish Arora’s ready-to-wear collection for Spring-Summer 2011 will be colorful and luminous.
Accompanied by rock standards, Manish Arora’s Spring-Summer 2011 collection is unveiled, inspired by the Baroque period. Embroidery and prints multiply on a wardrobe of rounded geometric shapes. Manish Arora creates colorful, structured silhouettes, adorned with traditional embroidery, sequins, ruffles, pearls, Swarovski crystals or more original motifs. Yet the influences in this collection are diverse and varied. Some silhouettes are reminiscent of the world of bullfighting, with gold and embroidery and an omnipresent red. Others seem to pay homage to the designer’s Indian heritage.
The harmonious curves of the Baroque style are juxtaposed with strict futuristic lines, creating an interesting “Futurist Baroque” illusion. Gold embroidery abounds, shoulders are accentuated, waists are marked and hips are more pronounced, accentuating the cadence of a gait. Dresses were often short, with giant yokes. Large gold epaulets appear on dresses and boleros, sometimes even taking up the entire crustacean skeleton on a dress, like a suit of armor. The artistic work of Japanese artist Hiroshi Naagi also clearly influenced the Indian designer, who recreated the artist’s work, imbued with romantic nostalgia, on small sequined dresses or sheaths. The last painting, composed of silhouettes inspired by these works of art, is well worth a look.
Manish Arora uses a wide palette of vibrant colors, including flamboyant red, canary yellow, turquoise blue, pink, water green, cream, white and, of course, gold. Accessories also play a key role. Tights and stockings are adorned with shimmering colors in keeping with the model’s style, when they aren’t embellished with gold streamers, studs or rhinestones. Reminiscent of the designer’s Indian roots, bracelets and other giant cuffs sometimes accumulate along the arms. Oversized belts sometimes add a touch of color to a single-tone silhouette. Rhinestone hats in the shape of car bodies accompany certain models. As for footwear, Nicholas Kirkwood imagined vertiginous sandals for the Indian designer that fit in perfectly with each silhouette.
Once again, Manish Arora amazes and astounds us with a colorful and creative Spring-Summer 2011 collection, in which he in no way denies his origins, but rather enriches them with other cultures, showing just how universal fashion can be.
Photo credits: © Pierre Delpuech / Paris Agency
Marie-Odile Radom
Cette publication est également disponible en : Français (French)
