Models wear Geisha clogs and carry parasols The exotic and ornate Shangri-La was a well-suited setting for Didit Hediprasetyo’s elegant oriental extravaganza. Live tribal drumming filled the salon where the show took place as the first model tottered out on Geisha clogs. In her restrictively long, tight skirt and carrying a paper parasol, she was the epitome of old-school oriental. However, dresses that could have strayed in to decidedly demure territory were spiced-up with cut-away flashes of flesh from the chest, waist and back. Where peekaboo’s weren't used, shape was revealed by carefully constructed gathering at the waist, hips and bust to accentuate the female figure.
There were surprise street-wear influences- such as a short satin bomber jacket- that bought it bang up to date. Whilst an abstract floral ditsy-print kimono ensured Didit’s eastern influence was never far behind. The collection was spectacular by it’s breadth but similarly by the small details, intricate green glass beading on a minimal white sheath dress, for example. The colours centred on a similar spring-fresh palette to the Dior show, of orange, aqua and white.
Flowing maxi-skirts begged suggested summer garden-party style whilst a floor sweeping one-shoulder Grecian draped dress had ‘June Wedding’ written all over it. Minimalistic elegance combined with dreamy cutting made Didit’s collection one of the most wearable of the week thus far. Accessibility is a quality we don’t often see in couture, so for this, Arabstoday applauds you Didit.