Lola701
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2014
- Messages
- 10,273
- Reaction score
- 19,446
It’s funny that you said « As if Karl discovered something new in himself » because that era coincide with his taxes issues and in 1999, his taxes issues became somehow part of a political affair in France (he was innocent after everything). In 2000 he sold all his 18th stuff and started that diet.^ Oh I've certainly come around to the Chanel collection, and the set that is Fall and Spring 1999 couture with Fall and Spring 2000 couture is rather marvelous. So experimental, playful, and joyously weird as if Karl discovered something new in himself. Versace was also fabulous and direct, but when looking at the rest of the season yeah it was odd. Excitably odd because new things were happening and the designers were unsure, but still had a lot of confidence to just get on with it. Plus, Chanel was holding a show at the Piscine Keller (still can't get over this; again, in a good way).
So that sort of « exhuberance » was probably due to that turbulence and transition in his personal life.
Even his work at Fendi! All the 1999/2000 collections were very wild, colorful, excessive.
I mean, when Jacques De Bascher died in 1989, his work was excessively flamboyant, very colorful but then he gained weight.
After his diet, his work had some sort of constant evolution. It was more focused, more graphic and the influence of Hedi’s work in his own personal style was reflected in his work.
There’s always this talk about the old guard of Couturier who lived the lifestyle of their clients and who had propositions that felt relevant no matter what (Valentino and Karl). I think that Gaultier had that at Hermes because his Haute Couture clients were for the most part the same women in front row at his Hermes shows.Completely agree. Gaultier's Hermes is untouchable, for me.
The irony is that his own RTW started to decline at that time.
Even his most ridiculous propositions at Hermes (the cowboy inspired collection) have kept that kind of timeless, tongue and cheek appeal.
He used to do those alligator blazers and coats. If I was rich, I would have purchased one! Out of the world!