
Photo: Christophe Archambault
I am a sucker for a good fashion show, but this one ditched the runway in favor of something much more spectacular. While the ISSEY MIYAKE Spring Summer 2020 show purports to be a fashion show, it feels much more like a dance performance or maybe performance art. The choreography is at times unstructured and at other times clearly minutely planned. It’s performed by models (many whom are also dancers) who waft and jump and spin and even fly around, beautifully showing off the movement of the (often bizarre) clothes.
The very interesting music is performed live by French singer/electronic musician DeLaurentis. It runs the gamut from abstract, bliss-out music that reminds me of Enya to a vocal version of Ravel’s Bolero.
For the show, ISSEY MIYAKE’s new design director Satoshi Kondo created a line that’s equal parts high-end loungewear and unwearable silliness, but somehow it all works, at least in the context of this performance. At least it all looks very comfortable! And very, very Japanese.
“I wanted to express the joy of wearing clothes and the joy of movement. So you see the models dancing, almost like in the wind, moving together.”
– Satoshi Kondo
As entertained as I was by the fashion and the theatrics, I was most struck by how much fun the models seemed to be having. Their face-splitting grins at the finale were clearly genuine. As much as I love avant garde fashion shows, it’s a real joy to see young people getting to behave like young people!
You can see all of ISSEY MIYAKE’s amazing products on the brand’s website and on Instagram and Facebook.
I tried to find the video on a platform other than Facebook, but I wasn’t successful. If you don’t have Facebook, most of the show can be seen in the Instagram posts below.
November 1, 2019 at 6:19 am
At first I was all [take a quick look it’s fashion and you’re not into that] and then flicking through the vid I noticed something I could use in dancing and was all “ooo interesting”, so thanks for sharing Donna, looking into my dress making box…
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November 1, 2019 at 7:13 am
I’m glad it interests you!
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November 1, 2019 at 7:39 am
This made me smile soooooooo big! I think if you remove that hats, it’s all so wearable (I’d wear any of it, and probably feel just as free and happy as those models do). I especially love the fact that these clothes are made to make the wearer feel good (regardless of size or shape), and not to attract the attention of a man. 😉
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November 1, 2019 at 2:21 pm
Amen, sister! When I was a small child, when I would get home from school, my mother would say “go put on your play clothes.” That’s what these made me think of. They’re grownup play clothes.
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November 1, 2019 at 8:07 am
Darn, I got cut up watching the videos and my coffee got cold. I could do without the hats but the rest was beautiful. I also loved the fact that one or more of the models were not wearing a bra. About time. Yes, I am a male but couldn’t/can’t figure out why a female’s breast were such a sex object. Must admit that I don’t think you will ever see any of this at Walmart or Goodwill, the two stores I shop at but I really enjoyed watching the videos. Hal
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November 1, 2019 at 2:22 pm
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I thought you would. There’s just enough dance and theatricality in there to make it more widely appealing. (And you just wait until Sunday. I’ve got something I know you’re going to love!)
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November 1, 2019 at 8:22 am
Fun….and those hats!
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November 1, 2019 at 2:23 pm
I enjoyed the hats! I wouldn’t wear them, but I thought they were fun to look at.
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November 1, 2019 at 7:04 pm
I loved them. I wouldn’t wear on because as short as I am I would disappearbut the added a lot to the effect .
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November 1, 2019 at 7:20 pm
I’m surprised to hear that you’re short, Beverly. I always picture you on the taller side of average.
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November 2, 2019 at 3:29 pm
Nope…pretty short ( once 5’2″) but getting shorter with age.
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November 2, 2019 at 11:44 pm
You’re the same height as Beloved!
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November 8, 2019 at 8:25 am
oh wow, absolutely beautiful. Issey Miyake is my favorite designer. So creative. Not that I am that much into fashion. Top!
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November 8, 2019 at 9:53 am
I really feel like this collection would appeal to everyone, fashionistas and non-fashionistas alike!
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