It is always fun to watch the models take Custo Barcelona’s over the top creations through their paces down the runway. It’s a colourful show in every respect and you can’t help but be captivated. Greg was particularly fond of the heavy alternative rock that accompanied this show. It put the audience in the right mood and complemented the designs in just the right way.
Custo Barcelona’s designs are entirely opposite to the minimal style that I aspire to. That being said, I can thoroughly appreciate these creative and maximal outfits. They are thoughtfully designed and somehow there is cohesion amidst the chaos of colour, silhouette, texture, pattern and fabrication. I also enjoyed the more subtle ’70s flavour of the collection.
The colour palette was earthy, along with lots of black, cream and grey, purple, red, bright green, turquoise and metallic. Earth tones are making quite a strong statement so far, with rich rust becoming the Fall version of oh-so-on-trend Spring orange.
Silhouettes were both tailored and voluminous, which seems to be another strong trend on the runways this season. Custo Barcelona’s hemlines are usually short so it comes as no surprise that midis and maxis did not feature. These highly detailed garments look best when they are short in my book. They would loose their cheeky appeal if they were longer.
We saw every conceivable trim on these garments. From zippers and buttons, to cording, studs, fringe, netting, crochet, fur, ribbon, brocade, piping, sequins, badges, beading, and eyelets. Getting as much embellishment onto the garments as possible is the Custo Barcelona look. There was also quite a bit of patchwork and colour blocking to heighten the maximal effect.
There was also no shortage of fabric variety. Leather, velvet, suede, tweed, denim, cotton, wool, houndstooth, plastic, silk and jersey knit are the ones that I could spot, but I’m sure that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The messy hairstyles of the lady models worked well with the chaotic outfits, as did the mid-calf and knee-high lace up boots.
The men’s outfits were my favourite part of the collection just because their ensembles were more clean-cut. Their matching suits are signature Custo, and a vibe that makes me smile. I loved the patterned trousers on these blokes. It’s fun to see menswear climbing onto the ladieswear trend band wagon, don’t you think?
In real life, one Custo Barcelona garment at a time is probably a lot more wearable than the full ensemble, especially when matched with a pair of basic jeans or tapered trousers. Add in a more regular hairstyle and simpler footwear, and you’ve toned down the look even more. So really, these designs are not as over the top as you might think. Could you see yourself wearing any of this collection? If not, can you appreciate the creative maximal look on someone else?
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