Sat 13th Nov: Kenzo "Fashion in Motion" at The V&A

Last evening Emily and I headed to the V&A for the latest "Fashion in Motion" exercise which focused on Kenzo and the 40th anniversary for the brand. The show was a culmination of the most recent S/S 2011 collection by the label's new creative director (Italian) Anotonio Marras and styled to replicate the archive of founder (Japanese) Kenzo Takada. The Paris house that fuses the influences of these two disparate geographical culture clashes shared its Sardinian / Japanese fusion with the public in London for this free day of fashion. Four staggered slots of the presentation meant that many visitors could participate and enjoy the spectacle of a full length catwalk presentation in the picturesque Raphael Gallery. I can't think of a more fitting vision to take residency in the halls of the museum's monumental collection of multicultural history than Kenzo's mismatch world textiles of patchwork colours and textures. The models tottered down the runway to the sounds of Bjork's wave song sampled into the soundtrack by Michael Gaubert to echo the Hokusai wave prints in the Kimono block print patterns. The new breed Eastern style wooden platform shoes gave added height to the statuesque bound headdress silhouette which tied together each look one after another. My favourite was the opening section with pop flouro colours as seen here in a snap of the shoes I wanted to run away with............. along with the colour blocking makeup to match the panelled pumps. Luckily we got back stage to have a close look and appreciate at first hand the layered sheers and burkram volumnious petticoats........