I'll admit I haven't always been a fan of Ann Demeulemeester's de-constructivist approach to fashion design. I learned of her at a [much younger] time in my life when I had tunnel vision for beauty in fashion and her work seemed to be the antithesis of that.

Over the years I have come to respect Demeulemeester as she polished and refined her avant-garde aesthetic [and/or perhaps my standards have evolved?]

Either way, her Fall 2011 RTW Collection  appealed to my taste in a great way and I want want to share it with you.

The collection represented Demeulemeester's poetic interpretation of mythological animals. She was especially inspired by the half man, half goat faun and dressed many of her models in stunning full length goat fur coats.

The models were styled head to toe to represent human/animal like creatures. References to birds were made through the use of feathers. There was an Amazonian tribe-like suggestion with the bandoliers [loaded with feathers instead of bullets]. With all the leather belts, corsets, chest plates and boots, the models were ready for battle. The warlike theme was no coincidence but rather a metaphor for peace through ruffles, bustles and pretty feathers in place of weapons.

Photos: Alessandro Viero

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