Russian Dreams With Love

To get a full taste of a culture it’s only realistic to actually go there to breathe it, live it; And it’s known that John Galliano often made expansive trips to Asia and Africa to fully saturate himself in silks and satins, crimson and cobalts. Thus his collections are full savors of the cultures that he projects and injects from runway to street-wear. But Galliano isn’t the only one, or at least too far ahead. Karl Lagerfeld has recently made a trip to Russia with side kick Naomi Campbell in order to instill that same nourishment into his own line.

But wait, aren’t you supposed to actually do the research before whipping up an entire collection based on presumptions? I mean we all have our general knowledge of what could work, but what about what would absolutely excel in accordance with that country? I’m sure the Russian’s could relate to scintillating reds, lavish furs, and stately blacks, so I guess he got it right there, but it just seems that this particular fashion excursion is just an after thought after all for Karl, whose already designed his pre-fall collection last December.

(images alla WWD)

However Karl did tell WWD that he liked the imaginative flair of how ‘things could be, had been or should be- better than reality.’ Now I understand life is a lot more creative when eliminating the realistic aspects and I think Karl does implement a point- that's rare to disappoint.

So yes, Karl, you're right, reality can be disappointing, but very, well fashionable. Take Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 09 tribal line of spicy sandals, chunky dangles, and exotic animal fringes. Now we know Maasai warriors wouldn’t necessarily wear all of that- to that degree- but it does seem something work dreaming of.