"It's like David Bowie meets Saint Laurent" said one Complex staffer after seeing Haider Ackermann's Spring 2016 Collection at Paris Fashion Week. To be honest, that's not too far off.
While it's not confirmed if Bowie was an actual inspiration, much like Bowie's own style, the androgyny was a central part of the collection. Both male and female models walked the runway, and the silhouettes are romantic in a way that either sex could wear convincingly.
As for the delicate nature of Ackermann's designs, the designer noted that he "always wanted to be a dancer", something that is seen visibly in the exaggerated waistlines; luxurious leathers, and linen-like fabrics; and the highly tailored trouser legs.
Ackermann made no disguise of the fact that this collection was based on the designer's own desires to travel. "It was my ideal road trip," the designer told Style.com. The bright indigo blues reminded one of Mediterranean waters mixed with Japanese dyeing techniques. Leather belts and animal prints seemed to come right from a safari, and chalk-stripe trousers rang out as truly Parisian.
Certainly, one could argue that Haider hasn't been playing outside of his established aesthetic, but as the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." If the designer is able to bring down the house at the prestigious Palais Galliera, then it's safe to say this designer knows what he's doing.
