Mood board: What is civilised? Who decides what is correct? What influences a man more: nature or civilisation? All of these very zeitgeisty questions were asked by Rei Kawakubo and her team, queries they answered by taking classic elements of menswear and challenging them. In these interesting times, Kawakubo's answer is that art allows us all to break rules and find new juxtapositions.
Scene setting: Kawakubo's vision was stunningly echoed by the venue, set across the road from the salubrious grandeur of the Paris Opéra Garnier building, itself a fantastic example of baroque, beaux-arts architecture. Although externally the same (both were built in the same era, with the same style) the inside was entirely stripped back, its foundation exposed, no doubt about to be refitted and renewed. Comme des Garçons captured a moment of unexpected beauty in the long life of this building.
Finishing touches: The polkadot dinner shoes and 3D sculpted hairpieces brought all the fun to the collection, while clothes posed conversations on class and propriety. One jacquard toile ensemble sported a print of English huntsmen on horseback, slashed to reveal red tartan favoured by punks beneath.
