Yohji Yamamoto - Fashionably Limitless

Yohji Yamamoto, 2001-02, fall/winter ready-to-wear collection

I went to see his exhibition at the V&A this week with an old friend from London College of Fashion. It was good i have to say, i love how he never produces collections according to popular present trends and how he usually follows an avant-garde style constructing abnormal and fascinatingly weird garments that really capture your attention. His unique style often mixes old and new trends together and the use of draped black silhouettes echo throughout his collections creating a sense of surrealism. There’s no doubt about it he’s good at designing let’s say, ‘different’ garments no matter how impractical they are.

To be honest, no matter how much I admire his style. I just don’t see how anyone can be seen walking down the street wearing one of his garments without getting a few glances. I actually see his items as pieces of artwork. Something to be looked at behind a glass cage or to be photographed and exhibited. Don’t get me wrong, I love how some people really like to express themselves through what they wear totally standing out from the crowd. It’s just a sad thing that not everyone appreciates that and its designers like Yamamoto that encourages people to think outside the box because the reality is that there doesn’t seem to be much of a line between fashion and art anymore and to be frank, I like it.
The exhibition finishes in early July so i recommend anyone go see it in their free time.

Salazar, L. (ed.) (2011) Yohji Yamamoto, UK: V & A Publishing.

Yohji Yamamoto's Website