Louis Vuitton, SS13, Paris.
It was all about the graphic use of counterchange at the Spring-Summer 2013 show for Louis Vuitton. A checkerboard design was used in a wide variety of scales, with minute details to match.
The level of detail employed was stunning, from the precisely matched seams, pockets and pockets flaps down to the split tone buttons that matched the check. The execution of the matched checks across sheer fabrics and pleat was especially interesting, with the pattern designs clearly engineered to match the fabrics.
Bringing the counterchange concept to the floral motifs allowed a break against the inorganic check shape, and allowed for a play with even smaller check details used in seam crossing appliqué.
While the initial impression was all about the check, there were also some more subtle structural details at work that pushed towards a new silhouette. The shoulder seams scooped slightly forward off the shoulder line, as the antithesis of dropped shoulders, and the area of the patterns across the bust was pulled tight to help create the slight A-line flare of skirts and dresses.
Images from Vogue.co.uk»
