Antwerp Royal Academy of the Arts Fashion Show 2011, 1st year collections

What would a show at the Antwerp Royal Academy of the Arts be without the historic passage of the costumes?  Arts Thread takes a look at some of the highlights:

The show started with the first year students who explored three key themes. The first was to re-elaborate the basic skirt template in an abstract way. Students used pleating, draping and experimental new folding techniques to produce some weird and wonderful garments. Questioning traditional dress shapes was the second theme. Classic necklines were pulled out of proportion, fabric stripes were layered over each other and rope played an integral part in some of the pieces. The third theme saw students questioning traditional tailoring concepts resulting in exaggerated construction details and massive over-sized zips and buttons that almost seemed to  swallow the wearer.

Cameron Foden/Hyein Seo/Jezabelle Cormio, 2nd year

The second year students were outstanding and to some extent -  even stronger than the third years.  Cameron Foden opened the show with monster-like figures carrying oversized tools and heavy mattresses wrapped around their bodies like back packs. Hyein Seos collection channeled a fairytale princess aesthetic into supremely luxe lounge wear. Jezabelle Cormio really impressed the audience with her unique styling. Her collection, which is a tribute to the American cheerleader, was well finished and ready-to-wear straight off the runway.

Manon Kündig/Eva Dunis/Mathias Weber, 3rd year

Third year student Manon Kündigs cheekily titled Blowjob collection featured giant blown up silhouettes made out of rubber.  The pieces alter the proportions of the human body in a humorous and cartoon-like way. Manon, whose air-inflated skull dress was one of the evenings show-stoppers is also featured on the cover of the 2011 Show-book. Eva Dunis collection was chic and sophisticated with a touch of harem flair. Using delicate vintage wallpaper inspired patterns, Eva created some beautifully tailored dresses and skirts mixed with fine transparent voile veils. Mathias Weber explored the theme of the Tibetanian Bratwurst in his superb menswear collection. Mathias put his own twist on the styling, leaning on traditional European tailoring and Eastern silhouettes.

Niels Peeraer/Frederik Hornof/En-Ya Vandenhende, 4th year

The most outstanding fourth year collection was designed by Niels Peeraer, who provoked the audience by using young, androgynous males to model his pan-gender collection. Using soft fabrics, patterns and a subdued colour palette the pieces showed that the traditional rules which dictate what is masculine and feminine can easily be broken. Frederik Hornof combined sculptured head and neck pieces with fine jersey fabrics in soft nude and pink tones. Another highlight was En-Ya Vandenhende who designed a dramatic metal plate dress that exposed a lot of flesh yet remained tasteful and sophisticated.

Learn more about the designers at the Antwerp Royal Academy Fashion Show website.