Philipp Plein has always done things his own way, so it makes sense that his 2019 resort show – which took place at his home La Jungle Du Roi in Cannes last night – was centred around the idea of the rebel.
With an all-star line-up featuring Winnie Harlow, Halima Aden, Alessandra Ambrosia and Hot Felon mark two ‘Prison Bae’ Mekhi Alante Lucky, the models strut their way down a (typically understated) gold glittering runway to a soundtrack of – surprise! – “Rebel Rebel” by David Bowie.
Drawing inspiration from 1980s TV show Dynasty, the collection was made up of sharp tailored suits and floor-length gowns covered in sequins, stonewashed denim looks glittering with rhinestones, barely-there fringed bikinis, and a scattering of cowboy hats. In-keeping with the Bowie soundtrack, a number of faces were also finished with the singer’s Ziggy Stardust-era lightning bolts painted across them
And while rain loomed on the ocean’s horizon throughout the (outdoor) show, it held out until the finale had run its course and the designer had taken his bow – at which point, a bright fork of lightning zig-zagged across the sky and lit up the French town. Though fairly stripped back for a Plein show (not a singing robot or any members of Migos in sight), it just goes to show that even when he’s not trying, the designer’s shows are always the most dramatic in fashion.
