Idiosyncratic Style

If any of these stylized creations came towards me in a dark alley, I’d run for my life. There is something about each image that evokes a sense of fear, but since terror can mimic falling in love (pulse races, chills pursue, quickened breath, a locked stare, paralyzing fear and if your lucky, a false sense of bravery), it is no wonder that I am completely mad for these 10 creepy collections.

Alexander McQueen sent an amazing collection down the runway for Fall ‘09 and any of them, especially miss umbrella-head, would have been right at home among the residents of Halloween Town in The Nightmare Before Christmas.

The stunning geometry of this Gareth Pugh Spring ‘07 paralyzes me by conjuring up terrifying imagery of Lewis Carroll’s The Jabberwocky. 

The faceless creature that graced Maison Martin Margiela Spring ‘09 runway could have been that freaky little dead girl coming out from the well in The Ring.

Rather than garbs fit for royalty, the Spring ‘06 Christian Dior show featured garments worthy of a religious madman spreading Christianity, post Dark Ages.

If a runway show taking place in an insane asylum wasn’t creepy enough, for Spring ‘01 Alexander McQueen hit the nail square on its head by sending out this beautiful dress and tapping into our latent Hitchcock induced ornithophobia.

The looks from Gareth Pugh’s Fall ‘08 runway show induces childhood fears by reminding me of the Wicked Witch of the West’s castle guards in the Wizard of Oz.

Comme Des Garcons’ Fall ‘05 show felt like a delicate after-death moment  similar to the scary, solemn sweetness that was created in the séance from Beetlejuice.

This artistically crafted piece from Alexander McQueen’s Fall ‘07 show swept across a red sand pentagram in lieu of a traditional runway and evoked the same kind of spine-tingling chills as the presence of a medieval torture device.

With alien-esque skin and transparent futuristic textiles, Fall ’07’s Gareth Pugh collection had a very eerie Marilyn Manson moment circa The Dope Show.

Stephen King’s It forever changed the reputation of clowns from friendly smile-makers to nightmare factories. Comme Des Garcons’ Spring ‘08 show delighted in the unassuming terror of clowns like the legendary Pennywise.

What creepy collections do you love and which ones just scare you?

Photos from Style.com

L’Enfant terrible, Gareth Pugh continues to offer up works of art via the runway. His collections have been referred to as wearable sculptures and are admired for their artistic value and technical merit. With such show-stopping garments it is no wonder that pop starlets like Beyonce have donned his designs for the stage.

Pugh’s Spring 2009 RTW is no exception, this collection could easily find a home on a post-contemporary woman, walking aboard an elegantly constructed spacecraft in a futuristic world.

With a ready to wear collection that is avant-garde, one wonders how wearable it really is and how an admiring fashionista is supposed to incorporate his artistic ideas in their real life wardrobe?

The Recycled Style Project has watered down Gareth Pugh’s collection with a simple DIY t-shirt re-construction that takes inspiration from the designer and captures the essence of his “light emerging from darkness” fashion thesis.

Supplies:

              Black T-shirt

              White T-shirt

              Fabric Scissors

              Needle & Thread or Sewing Machine

 

Instructions:

              Cut the front of the white t-shirt away from the back portion.

              Cut the back of the black t-shirt away from the front portion.

              Make sure to cut off the side seams.

              Lay the pieces together, good sides facing each other.

              Cut them to match, except at the neckline where the back is higher.

              Pin two pieces together along the sides and top.

              Be sure to leave the neck, sleeves and bottom open.

              Sew the pieces together along the pin lines.

              Sewing by machine is quicker and leaves a stronger stich

              (The project is small enough that you can hand sew if needed.)  

              Hem the edges or leave them raw, whichever you prefer.

              Flip the shirt right side out.

              Pair it with crisp black and white garments to stay on trend.

              Have fun styling your interpretation of Gareth Pugh’s collection.

Extra Credit Projects:

Get clever and sew in folds and pin tucks to the front of your shirt.  
Try this project with leggings for straight from the runway faux Pugh tights.
Experiment with dresses or collar shirts for more advanced DIY garments.

Links

Review and slideshow of Gareth Pugh’s RTW Spring 09 on Style.com

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2009RTW-PUGH

 

Behind the scenes Spring 09 RTW video on You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjr_DuMjioQ