Dear Shaded Viewers,
I’m jet-lagged as hell but determined to break into a full gallop so I can finish posting my coverage from Vienna Fashion Week which I attended over two weeks ago. On the closing night of MQVFW, the mysterious country of Norway trotted out, like festooned reindeer, some ensembles from three of their native designers. Because Scandinavia in general, with its distinct identity from the rest of Europe, has made some iconic imprints on cultural history (Merimekko, Bergman, Bjork), I had rather high expectations for this showcase from the “other” Northern European nation.
Truth be told, it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting (Johnny Love showed menswear that was so globally anonymous, it could have been from Oslo or Ohio; Cecilie Melli’s diaphanous dresses reminded me too much of Morgan Le Fay in NYC, but there were a few pieces I liked)–but I was wildly entertained by the delightfully kooky and eminently wearable looks from Fam Irvoll. They were like Jeremy Scott meets a ladies’ sewing circle on magic mushrooms…with a jigger of John Waters thrown in for good measure.
Hailing from Oslo, Fam Irvoll graduated from Esmond International in 2005 and later from Central St. Martin’s in 2008. She worked as an assistant for–surprise!–Vivienne Westwood and Gareth Pugh and is inspired by Alice in Wonderland, cartoons, toys, food, cakes and candy. Oh, and cigarettes. Lots and lots of cigarettes. No wonder the show felt like a giddy sugar-and-nicotine high.
I don’t like to encourage smoking but I thought this look was clever and hilarious.
There was a lot of gender fuck on the Vienna catwalks this year.
My friend Elvyra Geyer–a former model and one of the organizers of MQVFW–walked for Cecilie Melli. Elvyra is a judge on Austria’s Next Top Model and because she’s the “mean one” on the show, I like to think of her as Austria’s Kelly Cutrone.
Hi doll! Another look from Fam Irvoll but I also like the scarlet dress on the elegant woman behind her from Cecilie Melli.
My other reports on MQVFW:
Scantily clad male models backstage at Tiberius
Madonna’s brother shows his footwear on hot models in their underwear
Mariella Morgana’s creme-brulee-torched goth couture
Ciao,
Glenn Belverio
