Supermodels SA Supermodels SA - Issue 31 | Page 25

pierre cardin
The
Italian-born Frenchman is lauded for his
20th century pieces that
looked as though they
were from the 25th century. As Cardin rose to fame
in the age of the space race,
his creations took on an air of
futurism. His so-called bubble
dresses had all the fixings of
science fiction, combining earthly elegance with out-of-this-world
colours and avant garde design.
They may be wacky, sure, but Cardin’s clothes showed a freedom of
expression that highlighted larger ideals, in particular the emancipation of
women. The visionary designer fell out
of critical favour when he attached his
name to less fashionable items, from cars
to umbrellas, but his futuristic, space-centric legacy will live to infinity and beyond.