Vivienne Tam
Vivienne Tam Woman Spring Summer 2017 – Over the last few seasons, the 1970’s seems to play on the collective mind, and Vivienne Tam is among the designers who have continued to express this into this season. Leather fringe, NASA patches, and Southwestern styles pervade this collection, adding an east-meets-midwest depth to Tam’s customary theme.
An orange western shirt features white crane decals, mirrored across the breast as if flying close then drawing back at the last moment. The cranes appear throughout the collection, a subtle reference Tam often makes to her Chinese heritage. Blue and white patterns echo this sentiment, specifically on an oversized culottes and blouse.
Large belt buckles, floral embroidery and pointed collars combine with denim and fringe for a feminine take on a classic ‘70’s menswear look. Psychedelic prints, off-the-shoulder peasant blouses, bell-bottoms and loose shirts bring the free-love vibe to the forefront. Meanwhile, the UFO fascination is addressed in the form of silver leather and NASA badges. One dress, a sheer sack over a white shift, features what appears to be a river decal and a number of NASA, owl and mushroom cloud patches, perhaps a map of southwest points of interest. An H capped by a cowboy hat and wearing boots appears on a number of occasions, perhaps a reference to Houston, Texas.
Floral print dresses covered in butterfly, flower and armadillo patches arrive towards the end, bringing a whirl of springy butterfly dresses. The final look, a white dress of butterfly and flower lacework, is splattered with purple butterfly patches, NASA patches, and the occasional panda patch, cinched with a studded black belt. Slip on skate shoes and low top sneakers are worn with most looks, sometimes with sheer ankle socks, occasionally switched out for suede lace-ups. While dated at moments, this collection offers cool and individual looks that will no doubt be picked apart and thrown together in even more imaginative ways this spring.
Vivienne Tam Woman Spring Summer 2017
