Dear A Shaded View Readers,
I had the pleasure of starting fashion week SS23 with a show at the wonderful IFM. It was a series of collections presented by 32 select BA students as a final culmination of their work at school. The shows covered a series of titles ranging from “Harmony of Contrasts” by Nicolas Pham, “Soul Space” by Michael Sallaz, to “No data.” By Théophane Falchero, “Time to Suck my Queer” by Marvin el Hijri, “Black Hair/Black Heir” by Lucenda Libretto to “Manifesto” by Jude Macasinag.
These were just a few names but you can catch the list and images below and I’d absolutely recommend you do so, because the visuals can hopefully share a fragment of what I experienced in the show. These images aren’t enough though. It would be amazing if you could meet the talented designers themselves, their smiles, their stories, and the energy they exude. It’s like watching a version of the brilliance of a Picasso occur in real time.
Because in light of so much magic my words fail me, I’ll share it in verses so you can also read with your emotions not just your mind. Because fashion deserves much more than that and these stars , they are the makers of dreams.
I find shows at fashion schools akin to an elegantly delicious Michelin meal. A deconstruction of a dish close to our hearts or a new creation that serves not only presentation but carries a certain je ne sais quoi in it its refinement with its flavors. You need to take a moment, take a picture, and then when your eyes adjust, you see the details, the embroidery, a tuck here, a trench undone there, a hair comb rendering a heartachingly glorious journey only a queen could tell, removable heels, loafers in strings, sneakers on blocks, business chic turned inside out. Outwear embellished, soft knits gliding, denim cuts, chains and delicious BDSM. The thrill of a harness and florals. Smooth leather bags on bodies and shoes, did you see the silk tongue on the loafers? Do you see the details?
Taste the movement of the dress when you take a bite?
It starts with the eyes, you smell the pheromones of anticipation, then you take a bite and let it melt in your mouth, the whole outfit comes together and its a total sensory experience.
Go back to where it all started for another bite and I know you’ll tell me you see the way straw feels against silk, cloth against skin, and the way colors gave harmony to your eyes,
never before, never again, because oscillating temporality is in the space of the soul, papi.
Dark matter moves through contrasts, and movement lends a desirable wrinkle to still life.
May we recognise the néo nomade when we look into the abysse.
My Paris, the heritage, your tendency towards unwavering unawareness, invisibility, connection and beauty gives magic to the black hair/black heir, a poème synesthésique, unearthly rupture! This is our manifesto!
I wish you could be there x thank you IFM.
Follow this link for a breakdown of each collection as presented by the school.
All pictures & writing by Nafiseh Soolari
