The fashion industry has been buzzing this year, with the shocking creative directorship changes to the bizarre and provocative runway shows. We take a look at some of the fashion moments that has left us surprised, stupefied and sometimes simply asking, “Why?”
Yeezy Madness
You can call Kanye West by many names but his collaboration with adidas has created quite an impact. Criticisms and questionable behaviour aside (West interfered New York Fashion Week’s schedule with a surprise show), the Yeezy Boost sneakers have caused multiple online shopping platforms to get hit with so much traffic that they crash in minutes. Creative genius? Maybe. Cultural icon? Yes.
Was That Appropriate?
With a theme celebrating China’s influence in fashion, art and film, cultural appropriation was inevitable at Met Gala 2015. We weren’t sure what to make of Sarah Jessica Parker’s Philip Treacy headdress or Justin Bieber’s dragon embellished Balmain blazer. But the memes that were plastered all over social media after the event were priceless.
Blue Steel
You’ve probably seen the selfie-centric poster for Zoolander 2. But the official announcement of the sequel was made in true Zoolander fashion – a walk-off. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson took on the runway in full character during Valentino’s fall/winter 2015 show in Paris Fashion Week. What better way is there to announce the comeback of two of the most narcissistic male models ever?
The Ins and Outs
Raf Simons, Alexander Wang and Alber Elbaz were some of the shockers that shook the fashion industry when news of their departure from their positions broke out. But none seemed to be as brutal as Gucci’s abrupt end with Frida Giannini. The former creative director was ousted even before she had the chance to showcase her final work for the house and was replaced by Alessandro Michele, a relatively unknown figure but Giannini’s longtime work partner.
Flower Power
When it comes to elaborate fashion shows, Karl Lagerfeld comes to mind. He created a Chanel-everything supermarket and transformed the Grand Palais into a detailed Parisian street. It was hard to find anything more elaborate until Raf Simons came along. The recent Paris Fashion Week saw Raf Simons go all out, constructing a beautiful dome made up of 400,000 blue Delphiniums in the middle of Cour Carrée of the Musée du Louvre. It took three weeks of work, just for a 12-minute runway show now recognised as Raf Simons’ swansong at Christian Dior.
Not Safe For The Runway
Not one to shy away from unconventional designs and habits, Rick Owens raised eyebrows when he sent male models down the runway with their genitalia exposed. Several months later during the women’s spring/summer 2016 collection, models were strapped upside down to one another. Now that’s going out on a limb for fashion.