Borosilicate glass, mylar film, polyurethane, glass organza, polyamide powder and thermo-plaster polymers. These are the raw materials used by Dutch couturier Iris van Herpen to create the sculptural, otherworldly confections worn by stars including Lady Gaga, Tilda Swinton and Jennifer Lopez.
Though Van Herpen may not yet be a household name, her devotees are women pushing the boundaries in culture — musician Bjork has been a long-time collaborator, and this year the couturier created a custom caped gown for Beyoncé’s record-breaking “Renaissance” world tour.
Performer Grimes wore a laser cut Van Herpen gown “inspired by distant futures” to the “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” Met Gala in 2021, which took 900 hours to make and, in 2022, several celebrities wore Van Herpen frocks to the “Gilded Age” Met Gala, including model Winnie Harlow, and singers Teyana Taylor and Dove Cameron.
Cameron’s show-stopping spiral nebulae-inspired ensemble took over 600 hours to make and was fashioned from recycled mylar (a type of reflective shiny plastic). Carpet-side, Cameron gushed over the unexpected look to Vanity Fair, “It reminds me of a spine… I love how intricate and detailed it is.”
Now, over a hundred pieces by the designer are being exhibited in a new retrospective, titled “Sculpting the Senses,” at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Often inspired by rock formations, fossils and skeletons, the show dives deep into van Herpen’s web of natural influences.
Source: CNN
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