Tadashi Shoji urged women to let loose and to express themselves for Fall 2017, taking cues from the “love revolution” of the late 1960s and early 70s.
The Japanese-born American designer, who showed his latest collection at New York Fashion Week, said that he was inspired by the mood and social spirit of the period.
“It’s late ’60s, ’70s, like a love revolution all over the world. Like Berkeley, Tokyo, London, Paris, everybody had a youth revolution.”
On the runway that mood was translated into models strutting their stuff in flowing velvet dresses, opulent jacquard coats and flashy sequin gowns with sexy lace inlets, accompanied by the music of Jimi Hendrix.
The designer opted for rich jewel-tone colors such as forest green, burgundy red and navy.
Shoji, who is known for his red-carpet worthy gowns, also included pant suits in his collection with gender-bending stripes.
He said that he noticed similarities between his theme and the current social environment of the United States while working on his collection.
“During the making (of the collection) started the women’s march. It is a real similar feeling, psyche through the whole entire world. The psyche is the same kind of thing. So maybe I am doing a right thing, that how I felt,” Shoji added.
Shoji moved to the United States in 1973, and launched his eponymous fashion label in 1982. – REUTERS
