It comes as no surprise, Covid-19 has posed innumerable problems for conventional living and the daily operations of several industries. Keeping us on our toes, and forcing us to think beyond traditional means, French luxury fashion house Saint Laurent is one of many, feverishly adapting to these unprecedented times. Prioritizing safety and health without compromising aesthetic, Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello unveils his latest Spring 2021 collection in a mystifying choreographed short film.
Sweeping across Paris, Beijing, and New York, the film showcases a multitude of arresting scenes such as, the Sacre Coeur, mega-skyscrapers shadowing the Chinese capital, the Brooklyn Bridge and a pyrotechnic walkway constructed on the sparkling Eiffel Tower. Donning blousons traced with leafy fronds, hibiscus-print shirts, a new long tunic-y shirting idea, and soft pants tailored to a perfect degree of fluidity, the each model is seen leaping across the gaping chasms of buildings with the help of rope-strap sandals and basket-weave loafers.
Directed by French director, designer, and photographer Nathalie Canguilhem, the film presents a whirlwind montage of adrenaline-pumping daredevil antics mixed with quiet precision. Showcasing the terrible and inexorable way the coronavirus has infected the world, the film aims to spread a message of positivity and hope, that even in a places engulfed by tragedy, pain and confinement, creativity still flourishes.
Often criticized for his mellow approach to design and overshadowed by former Creative Director Hedi Slimane’s signature rock-tinged allure, Anthony Vaccarello remains intent on fine-tuning his garderobe. The result? Rocker-sharp tailoring of suits, spiffed-up glossy arm surplus jackets, and shawl collared blazers in black and ivory. As it seems, Anthony Vaccarello’s shines most in his distinct marketing and unexpected color interplays, thus making every SLP collection one of heavy nostalgia and timelessness, “I don’t like the idea of doing a revolutionary wardrobe every season. For me, you can mix this collection with the one I did in Malibu last year or the one I showed overlooking Manhattan in 2018.”