"Distortion" was one of the key concepts floating throughout Maison Martin Margiela's latest Pre-Fall lineup. Imagine a girl borrowing her boyfriend's cozy sweater, and then someone yanking it from behind to create a strange volume. Or another girl who walks into a Big & Tall store, buys a pair of XL men's pants, then nonchalantly pins and drapes them to perfection. Such is the precisely haphazard, Margiela way.
According to the collection notes, another idea on the table was "tailored shapes inspired by the Renaissance." They were most evident in the plastron bibs used as styling tools in the lookbook. They underscored the masculine grace of the season, as did trouser waistband accessories and crisp shirts with piping details that "transposed joint placement," whatever that means. Functional outerwear was a highlight. A classic olive peacoat came triple-breasted—instead of double—giving it a slight A-line shape. An exaggerated, goose-down puffer, meanwhile, would be just the thing to conquer this Polar Vortex Part Deux we're experiencing.
