“The court jesters of the Middle Ages were not only involved in healing.
Often they would be close advisors of the king. Coming from a different world with original ways of thinking, they would have the right to speak freely and give honest insights and advice. I imagined that these jesters probably had punk spirit“, said Rei Kawakubo.
The tone is set at Comme des Garçons Homme Plus where the Japanese fashion maverick designer goes back, centuries earlier, to the tradition of medieval court jesters.
With their faces half-masked by clown masks, scary characters or animal snouts, the models walk to the squeaky sounds of a horror movie soundtrack, dressed in creations with an aesthetic that stays true to Comme des Garçons.
Striped pants with zany harlequin prints, frock coats with puffy, crinkly bottoms, plaid shirts with hoops – hoops are a mainstay at Kawakubo – inserted into the bottom, inflating the volume – the same construction is applied to shorts, striped leggings in multiple colors… Behind all these extravagant creations, a touch of burlesque, and these vibrant colors, is there a more sinister message hidden? While the world sinks into endless crises, we continue to enjoy ourselves, to move forward in a semblance of carefree, and fashion would probably be an excellent way to denounce this nonsense? To each his answer!
©Comme des Garçons
