Issey Miyake Autumn

Aren't these musicians adorable? Also, check out the subtle wood-grain texture on their pants. In general, Issey Miyake's recent fall collection was endearing. The models' expressions veered into the territory of cheerfulness. See below:



I want her to be beaming! That little smile is already so lovely--imagine the expansive version!

Runway shows are intended to focus on the clothes rather than the people wearing them. Designers gear their presentations toward fellow industry professionals, aiming to showcase evolution from past work, construction elements, and other academic attributes. In one way, that makes sense, because brands depend on buyers and editors. However, the system is antiquated and doesn't allow for efficient marketing.

In terms of public perception, a brand's main goal should be to cultivate a sense of joy and emotional fulfillment around their product. It doesn't necessarily have to be done in a nice way, but scowling models don't do it at all. Where's the vitality, the charm? Clothes alone can't carry as much human appeal as happy girls who demonstrate that beautiful garments can complement a person's inner light. It sounds cheesy, I know, but positivity is popular. Consider what makes a story go viral. Designers should imagine their output as lamps and the consumers as candles. There is so much money in making people feel good (or at least making them think that they do). How do you best allow your customer to feel like they are shining with a transformed light, rather than an obscured one?

As fashion becomes increasingly democratized--e.g., I'd never get into this show but I can peruse it online--brands are exposed to consumers directly, bypassing boutiques and department stores (although not bypassing Style.com). If I were going to drop $500+ on an Issey Miyake piece (like these "shorts") I would likely be doing it online. Brands should make an effort to appeal to consumers in the same way that e-tailers do.

Issey Miyake's show won me over with the friendly models, but the gorgeous clothes also had something to do with it. Tim Blanks wrote, "The technique du jour was steam-stretching, in which computers program steam heat to shrink jacquard fabrics into three-dimensional grooves. That mechanical process yielded gorgeously organic fabrics, patterned like tree rings, which [were] cut into poetic shapes that shivered sensuously as the models walked."



Another smile! So pretty!



And then some glares. Hmm. I also love these cozy looks:



And these ones with their mesmerizing parallel lines: