Gaspard Yurkievich Spring 2009
Gaspard Yurkievich Spring 2009

PARIS, Oct 3, 2008 / FW/ — For some strange reason, our writers feel that zippers are following them around the world; it started in New York with the dress made of zippers that our Editor-in-Chief wrote a blog for it.

In Milan, our correspondents Lisa Helm and Sara Conde saw Donatella Versace’s sculpted dresses adorned with zippers and here in Paris, Gaspard Yurkievich is proposing his own version of zipper-inspired clothing.

The New York zipper dress was actually made by YKK, the world’s largest zipper manufacturer as a conversational piece and to advertise their product. Donatella Versace’s version is creative high street fashion meant for luxury clientele. Comme des Garcon and Junya Watanabe also created zipper dresses several years back, their vision were high concept, even intellectual.

And that brings us to Gaspard Yurkievich, who actually used zippers and other closures, both as embellishment and for their true function. Interesting, even eye-catching at times, Yurkievich’s zipper dresses proposals have left something to be desired.

As a focal point in a dress, a top or a coat, the zipper remained just a closure item. It never reached the level of a fashion statement. The buttons and the snaps actually did much better.

Buttons were used in lieu of beads, thus it was obvious from the start that it was there as a decoration. Still, the use of buttons as embellishments did not raise it to high street fashion level.

Gaspard Yurkievich’s idea of elevating the zipper, buttons and other closures to make a statement instead of their traditional functional level was great. Yet, somewhere in between the inspiration and execution, something went awry and Yurkievich just did not his mark.

This is truly sad for me because Gaspard Yurkievich is one of my favorite Parisian designers. Hopefully, he will be back to his usual self next season, because this collection is just a fluke.

[FELICIA PRINCE]

Related Post
Paris Fashion Week Spring 2009