Some are cool. Some are bad. And one has taken the phrase, “You are a fashion rock star” to all new levels around here. For the most part, it is the clothes that are the stars of fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan, and Paris. But every once in a while spectacle takes over and the clothes become overshadowed by the show or at least an element of the show. Sometimes that’s wonderful. Other times, not so much. Here are our choices for the most memorable video moments from the autumn/winter 2015 season.
5. Mark & Estel (New York)
We lampoon this duo every season, not for the clothes, which wouldn’t be that bad with some serious refinement, but for their bizarre egocentric antics during the show’s finale. Every. Season. This time, it was Mark’s attempt at rapping and his insistence that YOU are a fashion rock star that still has us laughing. We’re pretty sure those black tails are hiding a brown stain on those white pants.
4. Chanel (Paris)
Karl Lagerfeld spends more on the spectacle than he does on the clothes when it comes to fashion week. Seriously, when was the last time you actually saw anything totally new from this label? To make the endless remakes more palatable, Lagerfeld goes overboard with the most elaborate of sets. This season: a fully functioning, and from what I understand the city’s largest, Parisian bistro. He even tossed in some male models as waiters. Knowing how rough male models have it, my guess is they all had prior experience that qualified them for the job. Take a look.
3. Antonio Marras (Milan)
I’m not sure to what degree Antonio Marras intended to create a sensation for his line in any way other than designing desirable clothes. I wasn’t terribly impressed overall, but his sense of detail is quite impressive. More impressive, though, is who he cast to wear the final piece: 71-year-old iconic Italian model Benedetta Barzini. A woman who graced the cover of Vogue Italia in 1965, Marras described her as, “… an eccentric, limitless woman. She is a living legend of fashion.” Her walk was perhaps the most regal and the most graceful I’ve ever seen. We pick up the video at the point she enters.
2. Dolce & Gabbana (Milan)
This one comes with some built-in controversy. When Dolce & Gabbana dedicated their show to mothers, and proceeded to send both moms and babies down the runway, it was difficult to not join in the collective awww. At the time, I’m not sure too many people realized there was a socio-political statement being made: Dolce & Gabbana are against invitro fertilization, especially where it helps gay couples have children. That would be gay couples such a rock legend Sir Elton John, who has now joined a boycott against the designers. Then, to make matters worse, Stephano Gabbana calls Sir Elton a fascist. OH, and did we mention the designers themselves were a couple for 23 years before breaking up in 2005? Something’s not right here. Superficially, the video is darling but is this an appropriate way to make a political statement? We think not.
1. Valentino (Paris)
Let’s be brutally honest: this fashion season was a bit of a disappointment. I actually had difficulty finding five videos worth including in any kind of a “best of” list. Valentino came at us with a surprise ending, though, after which they might as well just canceled the remaining shows. No one could top Zoolander hitting the runway at the finale. I sat there watching, not able to actually see the entry point at the top of the runway, as the crowd went from politely bored to excited and even animated. As the two figures neared, I knew who they were supposed to be, but could it actually be them? In the flesh? Yes, it was Ben Still and Owen Wilson, in the flesh. Zoolander 2 comes out the summer of 2016. We hope this scene isn’t left on the cutting room floor.
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