On to the topic at hand. Lots to discuss!
Fashion Month S/S21
I wanted to do a Top 10 list of Fashion Month, but when I sat down and really thought about the most impactful collections of the season, there were only three.
I’ve already talked about Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada’s first joint collection. Hint: I didn’t love it, but enjoyed watching it and their post-show Q&A.
The best show of S/S21 for me was Jeremy Scott for Moschino. I loved it because it was super innovative and made me smile during a time when we are doing so little smiling. He took the miniature theme one step further than Dior by partnering with the Jim Henson Co. to create marionette models and stage a runway show. There were even high profile marionette audience members – “Anna Wintour,” Edward Enninful” and others were in attendance.
On the flip side, the S/S21 collection that had me scratching my head was Givenchy. This was newly appointed Creative Director Matthew Williams’ debut collection for the brand. And it was awful. I honestly don’t know where to begin. There was no thoughtful reference to the brand’s DNA. The best I can gather was that he desperately wanted to emulate Daniel Lee at Bottega Veneta. He tried to create an ugly it-shoe. But they were just plain ugly. Nothing “it” about them. All I kept thinking was that we lost Clare Waight Keller for this?
Man Repeller Shuts Down
But perhaps the biggest news of the week is that Man Repeller is shutting down operations. This is huge for a few reasons.
First, I think it’s a really important message that even the companies we think are successful and doing well financially are actually quite vulnerable in the pandemic. Now, more than ever, it is IMPERATIVE to support the brands and businesses you align with. Our mom and pops need us.
Second, I haven’t followed Man Repeller consistently in quite some time, but back in the day when it was just Leandra spouting off in quirky sartorial getups I was a fan. I remember taking the Man Repeller quiz and feeling so proud that I was on the “full repeller” end of the spectrum.
But more than her voice and sense of style, what Leandra did for fashion blogging is huge. Along with Bryan Boy, Susie Bubble, Sea of Shoes, Rumi, Chriselle, etc., she opened the door for fashion enthusiasts to take their voice to a larger community.
I wouldn’t have a blog if it weren’t for Leandra, et al. I would probably still be just a girl who sits in her closet and talks to her shoes. These pioneers opened the door for the rest of us. They made it okay, the norm actually, for us to contribute to the larger fashion conversation. Something we were taught was only reserved for Anna Wintour or someone with Editor in their moniker.
So while I can’t speak to what really went on behind closed door at Man Repeller, I can say one thing. It’s the end of an era.
Images via IMAXTREE