March 1, 2022 |
Vaquera makes fashion fan-fiction — at least that’s what its website says — and if we weren’t sure before, we now know it to be true. Following a September showcase in New York, kitschy label Vaquera crossed overseas to present in Paris for the first time — and the latest spectacle not only matched the predisposed expectations we were left with last season, but downright surpassed them. As for the raunchy fanfic? It was “love” this time around; love for the label’s friends, families and selves, all set in the city of love itself.
By creative directors Patric DiCaprio and Bryn Taubensee, the playful avant-garde silhouettes that have become synonymous with the brand were rife from beginning . Ginormous belts, eccentric tinsel gowns, leopard-print ruffs and even a lavender cable-knit jumper that made oversized seem small solidified the quirk factor. There were also floor-length scarves, baggy mittens that stretched over the elbow, tartan balaclavas and massive platform sandals to keep your head in the clouds.
Ruffled rose intimates and deconstructed PVC and lace wedding lingerie felt very Valentines day-meets-left-at-the-altar. Meanwhile the skull and bones motifs, all black gowns and latex catsuits were effortlessly punk. Big baggy denim took the form of dungarees, maxi skirts and jeans, acid washed and studded, for an elevated 1990s feel — Vaquera’s Brooklyn studio actually features an indoor skate park so these pre-naughties silhouettes come as no surprise.
When it came to the colours, iridescent crimsons, fuchsia, gold and black dominated. Eccentric, offbeat, wacky and wild, Vaquera is for the outcasts.
Photography courtesy of Vaquera.
