The Viktor&Rolf Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2021 collection is inspired by the new generation of royals and their attempt to show a human reality behind the facade of an institution. Fashion, like the monarchy has its own hierarchy, its courts, its power alliances and its Kings and Queens.
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The world is obsessed with royalty, perhaps even more so than with fashion. Both require putting on a show, and this show must always go on, no matter what. The collection and presentation pay tribute to the survival instinct of an institution that fashion artists Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren have loved and served for almost 33 years: Fashion.
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At the same time this season addresses the ambiguity of 'keeping up appearances', regardless of what happens behind the scenes.
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As always, it is done with a positive twist. This season, Viktor&Rolf wanted to show how everyone can become a Queen and how everyone can behave like royalty.
No matter if their furs are plastic, their jewels are paste and their gowns patchworked in polyester. A perfectly imperfect juxtaposition between what is real and what is fake.
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Each look comprises of three layers – a dress, coat, and a sash and are adorned with reignited Swarovski crystals.
With this season’s styling, Viktor&Rolf introduce an exclusive selection previewing the upcoming Melissa/ Viktor&Rolf shoes and bags.
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Further to the digital presentation which debuted online, Viktor&Rolf has hosting a one day, by invitation only, exhibition at the Chapelle Expiatoire in Paris. The chapel is a historical monument dedicated to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie-Antoinette.
It is constructed on the grounds where they had been buried after they had been guillotined at Place de la Révolution in 1793, to be later transferred at the Basilique Saint-Denis.
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The installation is curated by Thierry-Maxime Loriot. He explains: “Past, present and future is the essence of creation for fashion artists Viktor&Rolf. By reinterpreting History and reinventing their own codes season after season, their collections are also about universal values beyond fashion. The strong message in their work captures not only the zeitgeist, but also says a lot about the society we live in today, beyond its elegance and humor, it is relevant to all.“
