A trip from East to West: S/S 2012 Gazzarrini

Boat inside of the Museum

      Day number two of fashion shows! I am getting a minor glimpse of what buyers and reporters do during fashion week specially the urgency running from show to show.  The first fashion show was located at the Museo Nazionale Della Scienza E Della Technologia on Via Olona.  We first walked in downstairs and were welcomed by a large ship placed inside the building surrounded by anchors and the Gazzarrini collection.  We walked back upstairs to wait outside and had another chance to people watch. There was more of an international representation at this show than the Iceberg show. They presented themselves in more of a professional manner with suits and cocktail dresses.

           

Downstairs where the models got ready for the show

Once I walked into the building we were treated with some pastries and drinks around the ship and planes. It’s incredible where fashion shows take place and how the location is key to the meaning of the collection. I ended up speaking to a Fashion Stylist named Michelle Kling who is a student at Principessa Hannover.  She actually said she recognized me from the Iceberg show because of the white lace dress I was wearing. That’s not something you hear everyday! She mentioned that in Italy it is hard to become a stylist because the Italians believe they know what they are doing and pick the same common brands. This opened my eyes a little bit because it’s true. Just because the name is well known doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best fashion. She explained in more detail what to expect from Gazzarrini since I have never seen anything from them. A lot of simple designs with innovative fit is what Michelle promised I’d see.

          



















The male ushers wore suits with a piece of fabric wrapped from their left shoulder blade down to the right side of the stomach and the women wore vests with no center back piece. These were two outfits that stood out for me because it gave me an introduction of what to expect from Gazzarrini; unconventional tailoring.

            We were standing up but three of us had the chance to sit right next to the entrance in the second row. I am surprised that no one was sitting there since they are reserved for important people in the industry. I soaked it all in and sat right next to the stairs and was able to see each model walk up from downstairs. In comparison from Iceberg, this catwalk was brighter with more neutral tones and wrapped around the room.

            The music came on and the lights dimmed and thanks to yesterday, I knew the show was about to start.  The models had sharp features and clean cut faces as they presented the newest trends. Giuseppe Ceccarelli, the stylist for the catwalk, incorporated the overall inspiration of the collection into the outfits and Marco Bastianon created a funky soundtrack for every step. The Spring/ Summer 2012 collection reflects the latest trends, the points of contrast and the blend between the West and the East. It combined everyday experiences with contemporary refined fabric. The materials and shapes symbolized the landscape of different worlds and the clothes are characterized by neutral tones such as beige, bamboo, brown with soft shades of light green, Ceylon yellow and brick red.  The high waisted pants were loosely fit with button closures and fell right before the ankle bone to again, emphasize the shoes and socks. All of this emphasis on the ankle and shoe makes me believe that shoes and socks will become the focal piece for both men and women.

            Michelle was right, the items were basic but the fit, fabric and tailoring were innovative. There was a brown leather windbreaker, lime green socks that showed from their shoes, elastic waist on a tailored coat, blazers and distressed oxfords. The colors were neutral therefore it was full of grays, blues, beiges, camel and with a hint of lime green. One of the models wore a shirt with a tassel hanging from the bottom; few wore scarves that were tucked into the shirt instead of exposing it. The textures of the fabric, the extra long pockets and the combination of fabric also made this collection an expression of the East & West history and modern architecture.

            The location of the fashion show made more sense at the end of the show. It held all forms of architecture and the planes represented travel and the influence of the world. One model actually walked with a leather journal. Maybe it represented travel and memories. The show was a very simple but expressed an enormous story about the importance of history that it all can be seen in the texture of the fabric and the fit. 

On June 21st