Ann Demeulemeester’s Fall 2011 RTW collection was an ode to mythology, particularly hybrid creatures. Models were wearing garments made from goat fur, juxtaposed with red, and worn with belts and bandoleers made to look as if they were loaded with feathers instead of bullets. The clothing’s layering created a more elongated silhouette with experimental techniques and materials, paired with overlong cuffs and black leather gloves fitted against crepe sheaths. The different textures gave a cohesive sense of shade and light to each silhouette. The movement of the clothing was impeccable. At first glance, it makes you feel like an Ancient Greek God climbing Mount Olympus. The garments were swaying across the catwalk in a very poetic and romantic way. The music of choice perfectly fits the mood of the collection (Erik Satie’s Trois Gymnopédies). When looking at the past in history, humans have always envied animals’ abilities and powers along with different mythological creatures. Ann’s instinct was to lose herself in mythology and make her fantasy come alive by giving her models an otherworldly look inspired by Greek antiquity to reflect ancient beauty. With hair that was done up to look like feathers and eyebrows that were extremely bold. Other models were dressed as human-animal hybrids, such as Fairies, the Greek Drakaina, Mothmen, Seraphs, and the Norse Valkyries. Ann makes clothes for strong and bold men & women, mixing the elements between feminine and masculine. Ann states, “It has much more life if you show both men and women; it’s not about clothes but about people. It is much more real, more normal, if they can work together.” Ann wants to take away the role that gender plays in clothing, and this collection proves just that.

Written by Liaba Yasir