For Spring 2014, we can undoubtedly crown Christopher Kane “the indisputable master of the flower motif.” Christopher Kane’s collection altered and explored the common motif to the extreme creating a witty and mesmerizing collection of beautifully crafted clothes embellished with petal shaped cut outs, sequined floral motifs, and exuberant colorful appliqués. “We live because of flowers and trees, they produce oxygen, but we take them for granted” explained Christopher Kane.
The show opened with three black ensembles, remarkable and distinctive for their large petal shaped cutouts outlined in glossy metallic patent leather. The cutouts symbolizing sterilized petals were strategically placed as collars and pockets on a suit or softly floating on a skirt ensemble in addition to sweaters and trousers. In many of the garments, the petal motif was inset to reveal cutouts of sheer mesh panels or gracefully applied around the neckline.
These were followed by a mint green dress was ornamented with peek-a-boo cutouts outlined in white leather, revealing glimpses of skins underneath. MaryJane heels in Napa leather served as an eccentric twist to the elegant dress.
Christopher Kane demonstrated his level of craftsmanship by ironing and bonding the garments himself. He heat – pressed fabrics together, melting them into one, and spray – painted shirts and dresses in luxuriant colorful holographic tinsel fringed by a candy floss haze of fibers. To make his point, he sent out a knee length body conscious dress that was stunning in its array of colored hologram tinsel and delicate crystal straps. The dress paired with silver metallic sling backs with folded back edges that matched the dress’s gleaming iridescence.
Christopher Kane’s exploration of the floral motif did not cease to amaze. His botanical inspired designs cheekily illustrate the anatomy of flowers and the elaborate process of photosynthesis on dresses and skirts. A nude, deep v-neck blouse illustrated the scientific aspect through its laser cut snippets of flowers and arrows. Black flowery straps made the ensemble all the more lovely which he paired with a nude pleated skirt vaunted with flower diagrams.
Christopher Kane also explored the sexual undertones of flowers, including the anatomy and reproduction. “I started thinking about how incredible flowers are, how the female sexual organs have so much in common with the internal structural of a flower. “When I was growing up, my mum always used “flower” as her word for vagina – it’s a Scottish thing. I prefer sex to be an undertone in my clothes as well, rather than too obvious, so I was interested in how flowers are graphic but concealed and suggestive at the same time.”
The last look of the collection was a sheer black structured blouse and skirt detailed with arrows pointing at each other with a beautifully sequined buttercup flower placed in the middle, adding a jolt of color. The word flower in white lace was sewn in just below the buttercup motif. Leave it to Christopher Kane to put such a unique emphasis on his inspiration and transform it into a compelling and seductive collection.
