Tokyo was transported to Paris by Junya Watanabe’s reminiscent British punk-inspired Fall/Winter 2014 collection, in a grand Parisian home. An odd mix for an East meets West ensemble, as a well-famed Japanese designer decided to bring back the neighboring country’s rebel punk vibe to the city of la mode et le glamour, Paris. Watanabe did not hold back her inspirational spiral of Britannia garments with his boys, in layering outerwear and aesthetically preppy designs that may come across of a slight Ziggy Stardust and David Bowie. Complete with the immaculate synchronicity of background tunes by King Krule, whose punk jazz ballads matched faultlessly with the following haute couture.
The Watanabe’s boys wore intricate garments that, from afar, are well outstandingly piece-paired looks, yet individually they were a Britannic-punk couture creation of its own. The upper half embodied a gentlemanly affair featuring slim fitting blazers, tailored dress shirts and quirky patterned satin ties. To add a slight avant-garde twist, hunting jackets and Crombie coats were as important as any rebellious punk accessory. Though when the focused attention shifts downwards, the classic English countrymen pieces were paired with Watanabe’s unconventional signature of preppy bunch work patchworks on adorned dark tinted jeans and trousers, which were borderline between actual patching and unattended ornamentation. Sliding furthermore South, archetypal mens brogues-like and hunting booths acted as the perfect finishing piece for the looks were as important as the traditionally punk bowler hats over mullet hairdos that made a perfect twist to the classy upper wear.
There is a sense of rebel in such traditionally aesthetic souls, and that is what Watanabe intended to pursue as her inspiration. Adapting the old to a new, it would be hard to miss the detailing of Junya Watanabe’s Fall/Winter 2014 pieces, from the hairdo to the patchworks, as she just awaken another sense of creative upheaval wooings in the industry. Standing ovation! (Text Nadilla Sari Ratman)