Known for the impeccable finish and crisp feel of his collections, Chris Gelinas is a perfectionist at his most. On that note, it was interesting to see the designer getting inspired by the opposite side of women's strength: vulnerability. Day of the show, his press release noted riveting questions to recall the creative process of the collection as "an escape from the noise", or as "an instance when you know everything and nothing." These aforementioned were just two of the many connotations that lead us to think that been vulnerable, at times, is synonym of strength - and that's something he achieved with this outing for Spring 2016.
Gelinas mentioned the beauty of Irving Penn's poppy flowers and Hervé Télémaque collages, and resembled hints from those ideas through delicate petals of flowers by using fils coupé jacquards for shirt-dresses, or laser-cut embroidery collages to create dense 3-D florals on tops and skirts. The intricate part of the collection came through the multi-plackets on dresses and shirts that button/unbutton to purposely reveal the waist of a trouser, or a leg - meant to convey delicacy not sexiness. There's also a hint of discipline in the way shirts and polos were buttoned-up, playing alongside the modesty from different lengths of dresses and skirts. Opposites attract, and so did his first look: a single/double tailored coat in printed wool, paired with a stretch rib tank-top and hot pants; a combination that plays with the classic and the new. You get the sense that Gelinas had in mind women of all ages, and as he grows, that mindset will bring an extensive clientele around his name. It is great to see how, with such simplicity, he solved the challenge many designers seem to struggle with. These are thoughtful steps that result into big things - the boy is going up!.
By Jhon Jairo Santos