Galliano's first Margiela show and a surreptitious rebranding of the label, dropping the Martin.
After the show models came out in unfinished calico toiles, with instructions and handwritten notes stuck on - not up on style.com sadly.



I wasn't sure what to make of the show on first glance but having had a little while to think about it and revisit it I'm really enamoured by it. Some of these looks are simply beautiful and stunning - the black coat, the final dress, the two looks below:
Just pure elegance.
The deconstructivist heritage of Margiela is clearly here to stay and played with really well. The first look being a camel suede mannequin-ish top seems like a real statement, and the toy car "stitching" on it are wickedly fun. The use of crass PVC and lacquered shells alongside fine gold, velvet and brocade and is really full-on. A mix of elegant gowns/dresses and trashy dancer gear. A lot of incongruent fun. I think it's made clear that he's keen to find a way to express himself within the framework and established concepts of Margiela, though this collection is heavy on the referential and perhaps doesn't bring very much new or dramatic to the table yet. That said, compare the drama, grace and humour of this show with the dreariness of (I did like a lot about but more for the process and intricacy than form or statement).