The Kimono got a facelift at the Paris Women’s Ready-to-Wear Fall 2009. Hiroko Koshino’s attraction to traditional Japanese culture can readily be seen in the designs of her Fall 2009 line. She nips, tucks, crops, and completely modernizes the kimono for everyday use when it has typically been considered formal wear for ceremonial occasions. Houndstooth Kimono? Amazing. A Kimono inspired jacket and skirt combo with fitted, above the knee, hooker-inspired boots? Hot. I think it would have been hotter if Koshino cropped the skirt by 3 inches. More leg to balance the bulky sleeves. Hot. But she’s the designer, not me, so what would I know.
Koshino also has various pieces that aren’t kimono-like, but borrow kimono elements like the big belts, the volume, and as seen below, a soft Kimono fabric turned into an empire cut cocktail dress. Contrasting the soft, feminine lines of one dress, is the bright colours and curvaceous modern cut of another dress.
Given the pretty exquisite pieces above, I’m not sure what to think of the following dress. Symmetrically intriguing yes, but it looks like she used her bedspread to make this dress.
March 16th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I totally agree, the skirt would have looked better a bit shorter. I really enjoyed reading your peice! Can’t wait to read more.
March 16th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
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