Comme Des Garçons Homme Plus Spring/Summer 2018 Menswear Review

     The first row of journalists at the Comme Des Garçons Homme Plus runway show were invited to join in and dance with the models while the grand disco spectacle took place. However, no one joined in. Even though Comme Des Garçons has always been known to draw from the apocalyptic, even during the best of political and economic times, perhaps the current tumultuous political sphere has sent the presentation into the other direction: shocking joy. A mashup of disco hits, whirling spot lights, and awkward model dancing probably gave heart palpations to the normally reserved viewers expecting dreary complexity. Rei Kawakubo may have been expected to give a though provoking and bleak demonstration through menswear, but she instead spun that assumption on its head. Her normal tailoring was turned inside out, covered in faux leopard spots, glitter strips, and brocades.

     The collection was entitled “What’s On The Inside Matters”, fitting because all of the surface treatment of all those frock coats were actually the linings, while the true outsides were mundane and calm. An interesting idea while the models danced around in their glittering clothes, grabbing attention. Is Kawakubo making a comment on how dull attention-seeking people can be? Or about how interesting calm and collective people can be, because all of this glitter was indeed on the “inside”? And what about those terrifying doll parts towards the end of the show? It was the stuff of nightmares, something more along the lines of the brand's aesthetic. While the doll parts writhed under the rainbow of lights, it was undeniable to the viewer that Rei Kawakubo’s work was still shocking in a new way. Applause erupted once the models left the stage and the disco lights dimmed. Something entertaining to quickly escape from the scary world outside of fashion week.

Photo Credits: VogueRunway.com