Envers - fall/winter 2007
Royalty takes a walk on the wild side in Envers’ fall/winter 2007 collection, one in which young nobles are given a lesson in urban style.
Contemporary shapes for women come courtesy of a little creative magic. When a silk negligee collapses into itself, the lucky wearer is saved by an open-sleeve shirtdress. A tan A-line dress is saved from the banal by exaggerated pockets, little elements of subversion that designer Yves-Jean Lacasse can’t seem to resist throwing in.
Let’s talk about bang-on pairings: a black ruffle dress bunched with rose-petal density, branching up into a deconstructed black and white vest, and all of this over a solid taupe turtleneck. Or try the silver lamé tunic with knit collar over stark crimson separates, an outfit that achieves pop effect without overdoing it.
Lacasse is no stranger to mixing styles, as the smoking jacket with hood attests to. The wide-knit bouclé sweater provides comfort, while straying slightly from the pretty-boy look that Envers has down pat. Even though being Quebec’s avant-garde design darling entails taking some dicey risks, I don’t get the shapeless purple shawl, especially coming from a designer who has built his reputation on pursuing the perfect cut.
Envers does men’s wear best when focusing on angular shapes, such as in the spectacular navy pants and the matching asymmetric top, not when diluting regal looks with artificial ghetto chic.
Let’s put the pull-over hoodie made of lustrous silk satin, however, into our ‘priceless’ file. The good one.
Daniel Cox, Fashion Editor
Marek Wlazlo, Photographer
