Looks from Maison Margiela’s spring-summer 2017 ready-to-wear collection by John Galliano. Photo: AP

Pointy ears and felt hats: John Galliano’s galactic Maison Margiela show is Paris Fashion Week’s weirdest

Galliano’s spring/summer ready to wear collection for the Belgian label champions ‘eclectic futurism’ and form over function

Jing Zhang

Published: 4:07pm, 29 Sep 2016

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Even those who want to hate John Galliano can’t deny his unique creativity when it comes to designing thought-provoking fashion and giving us fresh ideas – all executed with a rare and distinctive flair.

He is still a one-off in his generation – and here are five reasons why we’re still thinking about his Paris Fashion Week show for Maison Margiela:

A look from Galliano for Maison Margiela’s spring/summer ready-to-wear collection. Photo: AFP

1. This collection championed an eclectic futurism that fused intergalactic inspirations with candy colours and a clever dissection of clothing archetypes from the classic trench to outdoors and sportswear.

Felt hats and silver lipstick at Maison Margiela. Photo: AFP

2. Models wore felt helmets over slicked hair, glorious silver eyebrows and lips and glittery skin as if they had been dipped in stardust. The look was space age, bewildering and totally out of this world.

A space-age inspired look from Galliano’s spring/summer 2017 women's ready-to-wear collection for Maison Margiela. Photo: Reuters

3. A high-tech message came with those hands-free headsets, bold, quirky earrings, high vis colours, neoprene and metallic leathers.

Galliano goes galactic for Maison Margiela’s spring/summer 2017 ready-to-wear show. Photo: AFP

4. This is fashion that transforms not decorates. Sporty mesh fabrics, toggled elastic and hiking backpack straps morphed into tops and voluminous smocks. Inner linings take centre stage as conventional garment structures are subverted and transformed.

“The mission of Maison Margiela is to reject convention,” says label founder Martin Margiela. Photo: AFP

5. There was a telling quote by founder Martin Margiela in the show notes: “The mission of Maison Margiela is to reject convention, and our evolving proposition stimulates nostalgia and innovation in equal parts. We believe that familiarity must be unsettled and spontaneous, with an intrinsic strangeness.” He explains why his label is always at the cutting-edge of avant-garde ready-to-wear.

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