Ulyana Sergeenko's collection for Haute Couture Spring / Summer 2013 shown in Paris was heavily inspired by the American West. "Gone With the Wind, the Headless Horseman, Huck Finn - it's our American collection." Scarlett O'Hara was one of the main inspirations for the collection, one of my personal style icons. Short dresses with ruffled bloomers, oversized straw hats, and long A-line skirts brought to mind a modernly translated 1850's style of dress. One particular white baby doll jumper was particularly stunning. Even Scarlett O'Hara's gorgeous green curtain rod dress was present. There was some traditional Russian detailing on pockets, buttons, and finishing of garments. The collection so clearly communicated an inspiration of the Old West, I almost would have expected the models to be hoisting shotguns.
Makeup was kept simple, utilizing a tanner skin finish, with a pinky blush and simple black cat eye on all the models. Hair was taken straight out of Gone With the Wind, with a simple middle part and two buns worn at the nape of the neck. Shoes were large, chunky platforms with ties in the front. The soundtrack included tracks from Django Unchained, The Wizard of Oz, and composer Aaron Copeland.
Sergeenko's collection has been criticized as being too "costumey", and that she is a designer better fitted to Hollywood backlots. However, I think fashion is a costume, especially when it comes to the Haute Couture collections, and the fashion world needs more of imaginative designers like Sergeenko to bring the fashion world back to life with a breath of fresh air.
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