“Like boys” is a free translation of the name of the Japanese fashion house founded by Rei Kawakubo. The designer used materials and deconstruction very boldly, exposing unfinished items, imperfections, holes and cuts. Surprising forms of clothes that treat the silhouette very creatively and reference Japanese traditions caused her style to be called “Hiroshima chic”. Comme des Garcons, or the Japanese vision of fashion straight from the imagination of Rei Kawakubo, continues to amaze and enchant to this day. The latest shows prove that the creator’s guiding idea: traditional, innovative and surprising is continued.
Comme des Garcons, or the Japanese vision of fashion
In a fashion world that often follows patterns and commercial trends, Rei Kawakubo’s work is a refreshing breath of freedom and authenticity.
Her designs remind us that fashion can be not only an expression of individuality, but also a tool for expressing deeper, universal thoughts about human existence and society. Her concept of fashion as art is very far from the elegance of Armani or the ephemerality and romanticism. Diora.
Comme des Garcons, or the Japanese vision of “post-nuclear” fashion, is a deconstruction of form and tradition, emphasizing seams or imperfections at the expense of elegance, deformation instead of exposing beauty, and finally freedom.
Deconstruction and anarchy in black
When trying to define Comme des Garçons style, it is hard to avoid the word “anarchy”. Kawakubo’s projections are fascinated by the deformation of the silhouette, which provokes reflection on standards of beauty and social norms. Her creations often question traditional notions of body shape, clothing construction and the use of color. Instead of following dominant trends, Kawakubo focuses on bold, often controversial solutions that go beyond convention.
One of the characteristic elements of her aesthetic is the color black, which has become a symbol of her work. The minimalism of colors is evident in each collection and forces the focus on texture or form. Blacks, asymmetry and jagged edges of creations are an expression of artistic rebellion and courage in the approach to fashion. The designer herself talks about her collections as “zen koans”, paradoxical questions or stories aimed at encouraging deeper reflection.
Comme des Garçons collections, such as the controversial 1997 diaper dresses and deconstructed unlined jackets, ask questions about what it means to be dressed and how fashion affects the perception of the body. Kawakubo is not afraid to provoke or shock, making us think about the essence and meaning of fashion.
Can you dress “like boys”
Although Comme des Garcones, the Japanese vision of fashion, is associated with designs that resemble works of art, are difficult to wear, geometric and independent, the brand also sells its own clothes, shoes and accessories on a daily basis.
The fashion house for its Play line, with a simple red heart motif, aimed at younger customers or customers who value comfort. You can find there not geometric, structural dresses reminiscent of a futuristic samurai, but sneakers or sweatshirts with a characteristic heart from the Play line. On the fashion house’s website, next to photos from shows, in which models appear that make it difficult to even move, provocative and non-standard, there is a store where you can find beautiful, but still having the character of an independent brand, skirts or bucket sweatshirts.
Next to the undershirts, there are structurally designed trousers or skirts, giving the silhouette an unconventional feature. There is a lot of flagship black and playing with the classic perception of clothes, which will certainly interest demanding customers.