Stéphane Rolland F/W ’23 – A Visual Prose of Couture Dedicated to Barbara | Words by Nafiseh Soolari

Dear Shaded Viewers,

The theme: Barbara, the iconic chanteuse, a symbol of living art for Stéphane Rolland, retraced and expressed.

The Setting: Théâtre du Châtelet, was the final venue Barbara performed in before her passing.

Intro: Rolland opens with words of love and admiration, vocalising his homage and his journey of creation.

And the scene begins—Rolland begins his poem, with a numbered dress for each verse, 

A colour introduced, each worn with intention, each presented in a range of emotions

Barbara’s affinity for Black is the opening—a black satin robe with wool crepe rompers

N2 a chic asymmetrical tunic against black satin shorts

& N3 a plush jumpsuit in black velvet embellished with white accessories to accentuate

Let red reign, we know she is art embodied as humans are and Rolland expresses a side that wants to be memorable, like her voice, you see regal red N4 a chic wool tunic and N5 a jumpsuit rich padding and N6 comes into vision the red crepe trailing, finally N7 leaves you mesmerized with its wool collar, a warmth emanates, 

A N12 shows in white, cloud sleeves, crepe and embroidered chains, 

A black N13, billowy gigantic spiral of organza 

N16 in black and N18, N23 in white feature “Masai” embroideries highlighting the wool

The “Masai” an African twist to the French style on N27 against the white organza and sand colored chiffon stays with you

N19 peeks through with poppies of copper velvet, a sheath here, a tattoo embroidery there but 

Its the closing with N32, the spicy poppy, and hearing Rolland say:

“Barbara on edge,

Barbara, allure

Barbara, still…” 

& the curtains rise.

Later,

Nafiseh

Nafiseh Soolari

Nafiseh Soolari is a creative consultant, writer and photographer— "I love translating the beauty I see in all the moments around me, people, places, things; and I aspire to share my vision: to create a single moment for me and you to connect and realize what this amazing world has to offer..."

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