PARIS, Mar 7, 2011/FW/– Paris-based Dutch designer Steffie Christiaens debuted her first collection through a baptism of fire- sculpting a progressive silhouette that forsakes a poignant science.

The designer created wearable pieces from unconventional processes which involved scorching and melting vintage garments. The textures and silhouettes surely reflect the effects of heat with minimal conceptions infused with elegant futuristic notions.

Charcoal dominated the color palette with the occasional burst of a bright cobalt and a shiny purple silk. Angular coats and precisely tailored capes melded well with cashmere fabrics, subdued leather, and exotic reptile skins. Trousers in wool hit directly at the ankle as 3D dresses hit just above the knee, and movement were sensational as pieces of jersey were layered with panels of crocodile and python hides.

The collection also incorporated menswear silhouettes, offering a more masculine version of Steffie’s original aesthetic. Jackets were voluminous in the back and came with raised collars and paired nicely with slim trousers and buckled boots.

The finale awed the crowd as technical couture dresses displayed cylindrical piping formed into stiff planes and arching tulip skirts. Steffie truly mastered the art of science and fashion in this risk-taking collection.

[LAUREN SCRUGGS]

Paris Prêt-a-porter Fall 2011