This was the first of a pair of shows focused on overblown proportions applied to wardrobe staples like trenchcoats, men’s shirts, bombers, and slip dresses, all of which were enlarged by 148, 150, or 200 percent. But size wasn’t Margiela’s only concern for Spring ’00: Carefully placed price stickers and electronic security tags commented on the marketing and selling of fashion, as well. What the de-heeled shoes were meant to say is less clear. The collection was served up not on a runway but, commented The New York Times, “on round tabletops in a room that looked set up for a Rotarian dinner.”
