paris fashion week: manish arora
(images via style)
manish arora’s f/w 2011 show provided a welcome break in the paris lineup this season, and not just because he inserted magic tricks (such as making the models appear) into his runway lineup.
in a season much-dampened by various scandals, mr. arora’s lavish designs are a pleasant diversion, as ever, due to their enthusiastic colourful nature and various embellishments. this season, the prints were, according to style, “done in collaboration with German artist Amrie Hoffstater,” and the designer told the nyt that the show had “(j)ust a little bit of Paco,” in it (he has been appointed the latest creative director to recharge paco rabanne).
wwd lauded the label’s wearable creations for the season, of which it should be fair to point out there were many. to be sure, some of the looks may have been a little daunting for those not particularly risk-taking, but he did send downright demure (for manish arora) dresses padding along the runway, such as a charming little cocktail dress worn by charlotte free (above), which one could imagine some actress or other attending a boutique opening in.
perhaps that’s the reason for some of the subtleties, in fact: as style points out, one of his dresses was worn at some event by nicki minaj, which has, to some extent, raised the bar on awareness of the designer outside the fashion sphere. thus, he has offered us for fall all the ranges of outrage a manish arora dress might come in, but managed to do it with a joyous skill that never feels pandering. it’s doubtful we’ll have anything else as good or fun the rest of the week.
