Michalsky Spring/Summer 2010: Divine Depression
by Rie Cau posted on July 07, 2009On the third day of Berlin Fashion Week (1-4 July 2009), German designer Michael Michalsky once again put up a larger-than-life show that not only wakes us up from accumulative tiredness, but also blows us away into the epicentre of his universe with all his divinity.
In time with today‘s world and in particular the current financial affairs, Michalsky‘s Spring/Summer 2010 show is entitled ”1929 Revisited – The Great Depression Part 2”.
The 42-year-old celebrity-embraced designer explains that the inspiration for the collection came particularly from the iconic photographs by American documentary photographer and photojournalist Dorothea Lange, who captured the essence of the effects of that unforgettable era with utter awe-inspiring realism.
Consequently, the set at the Michalsky show was decorated with a grey overtone to portray its overall gloominess. On the massive concrete-jungle-like stage, everything that symbolises excess luxury, i.e. lavish planes, expensive bottles of Champagne and fancy cars, crashes right into a pool of water and becomes history.
But wait a second!
The show does not venture into complete depression, but rather rightly balances the opposing concepts of depression and decadence. This means that clothes were inbuilt with the idea of utility and practicality of that noted decade; but never leaving behind that sense of luxury, which high fashion is all about.
The first look, worn by German model Luca Gadjus, precisely captures that point: tailored trousers worn with an open jacket in all-purpose grey with exemplary black finishes around the hem and Chrissie Morris for Michalsky shoes. This is indeed a tough look for tough times.
What followed was an abundance of clothes that naturally abides by Mr. Michalsky‘s magnificent motto of ”Real Clothes for Real People”. The clothes were not exorbitantly tight, but rather offered freedom and comfort while maintaining a flattering silhouette.
Sweet polka dots are back this season and adorned the lustrous look together with a fresh new flower print on cotton and silk.
Evidently, there is an emphasis on shoulders, as a soft puff lifted that power joint up. For the ultimate power shoulder, the night club doorman-turned-designer offered gilded shoulders à la Michael Jackson style.
Golden sparkles did not only adorned those ferocious shoulders, but also made its appearance together with lavish Swarovski crystals throughout the entire collection.
One piece that stood out was an off-the-shoulder dress with golden fringes, which Ms. Gadjus wore to close the show. Fundamentally, this drop dead dazzling dress seizes the essence of ultimate decadence by its bullseye.
Naturally, the cast was a stellar selection of the best bunch of today‘s models. This includes our all time favourite Luca Gadjus, the striking Spaniard Sheila Marquez, the charming Dutch Dewi Driegen, Norwegian-doll Siri Tollerød, Polish stunner Kasia Struss, fresh German face Katrin Thormann and rising star Theresa Genth.
The one face, which defined the collection for us, is Ms. Struss, whom with her fierce catty walk worked her two looks from the collection (Look #16: a strapless billowing white dress; and Look #40: a turquoise-blue dress with buttoned neckline and geometric cut-outs around the shoulder, paired with shiny black leggings) with such force that we submit helplessly to her magic Michalsky spell.
With depression as a theme and the 15th year anniversary for Maharishi, this marks the ideal opportunity for the release of a limited edition range of Michalsky‘s Maharishi pants.
Known for his marvellous collections, Mr. Michalsky‘s show naturally attracted a load of celebrities‘ attendance. To name a few: model Eva Padberg, Franziska Knuppe, German TV star Jenny Elvers-Elbertzhagen, actor Bruno Eyron and even Berlin’s Mayor Klaus Wowereit.
Surely, we are already looking forward to the arrival of this entire collection in stores!
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