Photography Lea ColomboFashion / ShowWalter Van Beirendonck SS15A strong statement for individuality: warped animal beaks and hybrid-style prints, Walter Van Beirendonck takes us to fantasylandShareLink copied ✔️June 25, 2014FashionShowTextIsabella BurleyPhotographyLea ColomboWalter Van Beirendonck SS15 Initial reaction: It wouldn’t be a Walter Van Beirendonck show without a political statement. This season, the designer paid homage to individuality – in particular to protecting the native tribes of the world – in a hybrid of tapestry, animal print and handpainted horrorshow graphics, like eyeballs and machine guns. Titled ‘WHAMBAM’, Van Beirendonck warped dualities in a marriage of old and new. How they wore it: De-constructed tapestry print jackets were stitched together with circle patches and held on by buttons, gradually evolving into looser, kimono cuts, worn over lightweight drawstring trousers and tightened at the waist with karate belts. Military-looking jumpsuits and shirts came with a layering of tulle with epaulettes attached, and sandals featured lightening bolt detailing. A mix of club-style optical illusions and animal prints merged into one another – closing the show – as new breeds in Van Beirendonck’s fantasy world were birthed. Face off: Charlie Le Mindu was back on hand to coif as was long-time make up collaborator and fellow Antwerp Academy graduate Inge Grognard, who evolved paint markings from last season with colourful lines masking the model’s faces. Animal-style beaks were also fitted to the models who, as they approached the end of the runway, stopped to reveal a second, more warped and trippy side to the mask. The soundtrack to Walter Van Beirendonck SS15: Last season, Van Beirendonck made an anti-racism statement with shaved heads, crocodile shoes and trippy-style prints. Walter Van Beirendonck AW14Polaroid obsessions: Walter Van BeirendonckEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREOscars red carpet: The 17 most controversial outfits of all timeA new Vivienne Westwood exhibition celebrates the designer’s activismRome is where the heart is at Valentino AW26This film captures Naples’ intense love affair with Stone IslandTouching grass was the biggest trend of AW26Mask4mask: Masquerade was having a moment at the AW26 showsCeline is sick of irony! Plus everything you missed at Paris Fashion WeekAdidas tapped the City of Angels for its latest release ZimmermannZIMMERMANN celebrates trailblazing women for AW26 Alysa Liu makes her Paris Fashion Week debut at Louis VuittonMiu Miu AW26: Chloë Sevigny and Gillian Anderson just walked at PFWKiko Kostadinov is taking flight for AW26Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy