Polyvinyl Chloride

1. Raf Simons Fall/Winter 2011
2. James Long Fall/Winter 2011

As our short history of the plastic raincoat in popular culture evolves into a comprehensive saga, its index demands another chapter. Working title: Polyvinyl and polymer in contemporary fashion.
/HORST

Serialization

1. Maison Martin Margiela Tokyo Store
2. Brian Jungen Cetology, 2002

A rail of luxury items in a sterilized surrounding. Artefacts of mass market production reworked into prehistoricalist sculptures. Hold together by the linear order of our culture's white spine.
/HORST

Undoubtedly

Maison Martin Margiela Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011

Earlier today, the infamous Maison fulfilled a Horst prophecy and presented transparent suits and plastic raincoats. Besides, the post-baroque Hotel Maison Champs Elysées delivered the backdrop for brutalist motorcycle jackets and tape-draped evening dresses.
/HORST

Raf Sander

Jil Sander Spring/Summer 2012

I'm feeling it. Like totally. I mean. 2012 is going to be a Raf Sander year. It is about the shape as predicted. The square thing around a boys neck. Coloured python and plastic raincoats. Bananas.
/HORST

A Short History Of Twins In Popular Culture III

1. Hellen van Meene
2. Unknown
3. Unknown
4. Teenage Wasteland by Ben Weller for Dansk
5. DSquared Spring/Summer 2011 by Mert & Marcus

Scary schoolgirls, sexy schoolboys, plastic raincoats and an apple. When twins are metaphorically attached to sin. When brothers become lovers. The sweet becomes viscous. And our voyeurism is satisfied.
/HORST

See also Part I & Part II.

Fox Tales

Jeremy Scott Fall/Winter 2011 vs. Prada Spring/Summer 2011

When the idea of pop is completely understood. When references are sucked in, chewed up and spit out again. When copying is allowed. Then, we don't have another scandal, we just witness a postmodern quote.
/HORST

Polythene Wrap Fight

Maison Martin Margiela Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 vs. Bruce LaBruce Hustler White

Many people ask me: Horst, what to wear on Valentine's Day? Well, there surely are plenty of possibilities. But my advice remains simple: Wrap yourself as a gift.
/HORST

Wahre Liebe

Hernández Cornet Fall/Winter 2011 vs. Martin Creed

Loving the cut-through silver belts. Loving the mint green plastic dress. If I were a woman, I'd take one in every colour. And I would so wear a silver spoon bracelet with it. L'objet trouvé.
/HORST

Image credits MBFW Stockholm

Singularity

Raf Simons Fall/Winter 2011

This collection is not going to be produced - so they say. Well who gives me a neoprene college T-shirt now? Where is my flattened 2D coat? Where my black trash bag plastic trousers? It's a sad sad world.
/HORST

Image credits Catwalking

A Short History Of The Plastic Raincoat In Popular Culture III

1. Maison Martin Margiela by Mark Borthwick
2. Raf Simons Fall/Winter 2002
3. Unknown
4. Jil Sander Spring/Summer 2007
5. Tush Magazine by Diego Fuga

All good things must come to an end. But we'll cry no single tear, we'll walk in the rain. Well prepared, armoured in Margiela, Raf Simons or Jil Sander. As I said: All good things must come to an end.
/HORST