Iris Van Herpen SS14

Initial reaction:

A surreal sensory experience.

Location:

Silencio – David Lynch’s mysterious club-cum-laboratory in Paris.

Innovation:

This season Van Herpen developed garments that generated sounds by touch. We were witnessing a real-life fashion orchestra.

Atmosphere:

Very surreal. Models were hidden in dark corners and photography was forbidden.

Sounds:

The soundtrack to the presentation was sculpted live by the models. Essentially, each of the garments were considered electronic instruments and orchestrated through any sensory interaction with the fabrics.

Fabrication:

Best known for her technical fabric innovation – this season Van Herpen handcrafted garments made from 3D silicone and created high gloss ‘liquid’ fabrics.

Model behaviour:

The show played out like strange highly-sexualised performance art, models such as Casey Legler and Saskia de Brauw stroked each other to curate the sounds of the show space. Van Herpen didn’t see them as models, rather as contributing artists.

Stand out looks:

A black sculpted cage dress, presented on a model behind inside a glass cage.

Unexpected details:

Sharp peaked shoulders and skeletal detailing.

How they wore it:

With heavy black boots.