Belland

pretaportre:

Jil Sander F/W 12.13 Milan via Style.

“After last season’s women’s-world scenario, Simons wanted to celebrate a day in the life of a relationship, the pure and simple pleasure of two as one. But Raf’s no Pollyanna. He was equally engaged by the hard work it takes to maintain such an ideal. So he introduced chaos into his dream world. The most graphically significant element in his collection might have been the slash of shine that split open Julia Nobis’ strapless matte black sheath. Thus are hopes and dreams splintered. 

Before that climactic moment, however, there was a seamless parade of peerlessly beautiful dresses and coats. A grace note was struck from the moment models entered clutching their coats closed. In Raf’s day-in-the-life scenario, these might have been bathrobes, just as insinuations of slips and nighties crept in later. A palette of blush pink, coffee, and pale gray underlined an early-morning feel. The soundtrack was Mazzy Star’s “Fade into You” and Sonic Youth’s version of the Carpenters classic “Superstar,” both songs where love is lorn. Can melancholia be uplifting? Here be proof, compounded by Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight,” one of Simons’ favorite songs. It sounded like an envoi to the Sander years. “