Pierre Cardin Gets No Love from WWD.Com For Spring 2011 Collection

Pierre Cardin's name is all over the place from luxury goods to sardines thanks to extensive licensing of the brand. However, for over 60 years the man himself still held the reigns of his company, a rarity in the fashion industry. At 88-years of age, Cardin had enough of his name being associated with the clothing bearing it. Therefore, to kick off the 60th anniversary of the label, Pierre Cardin made sure his designs hit the runway for spring/summer 2011 during Paris Fashion Week.

Why After a Decade Did Cardin Decide to Design a Collection Himself?

The New York Daily News reported that Pierre Cardin says he is "ashamed" of the designs that have carried his name for the last 10 years. According to Women's Wear Daily via New York Daily News Cardin bemoaned, "I wish they [Cardin's design team] picked up my designs. Instead, they produced this fusty, bourgeois stuff. It drives me to desperation, because I bring them my original designs to copy."emphasis mine throughout. So what does the designer who pioneered the Space Age Look and created the bubble dress do about it? He designs a collection himself to show at Paris Fashion Week.

Cardin Still Original While Sticking to the Futurist He Has Always Been for Spring 2011

The original fashion Trekkie, Pierre Cardin, began the show with his and her futuristic jumpsuits in bright fuchsia, cobalt blue, metallics and browns. Next, came little, mini cocktail dresses that, oddly enough, would fit in at a Star Trek convention as well as at a techno club. The remainder of the collection featured everything, and I do mean everything, from bridal wear, to office wear, casual sportswear, to conventional sportswear and beyond. Then again, what would you expect from Pierre Cardin himself, whose name is licensed on virtually every product imaginable? While not my favorite collection overall, it was an interesting showing with more workable pieces than I have seen from some collections this season and season's past.

WWD.com Has No Love for Cardin Spring/Summer 2011

While the 'mash up' of designs made sense to me considering the man behind the fashion, Women's Wear Daily was no fan of it. The fashion mag. called most of the collection "a litany of disorder", referring to everything that followed the his and hers space age fashions. However, the rant at the end of the WWD.com review seemed to sum up the reviewer's disdain for the collection.

"...and wacky men's wear apparently intended to show fusty old Hart Schaffner Marx what it should be doing with its good name. What's up, guys, rubber suspenders on a naked torso not your market? How about endless space-cadet tunics? Earth to Mr. Cardin, sometimes bourgeois isn't all bad."

Was WWD.com Too Harsh?

The fashion mag. made some valid points when you pick apart the sarcasm. Overall, the collection as a whole is not very marketable. If retailers were forced to purchase the entire collection or nothing, then no sales of Pierre Cardin's spring 2011 collection would be made I fear. However, retailers rarely purchase an entire collection. With that said, there are pieces that would fit well in high-end retail such as the business suits and other items would fit well in boutiques and trendy establishments. Of course, Cardin's favorite singer, Lady Gaga would probably flock to a few of the zanier designs. For me, the collection has a little something for everyone. What do you think?

SOURCES

Pierre Cardin RTW Spring 2011 - http://www.wwd.com/fashion-week/spring-ready-to-wear-2011/review/pierre-cardin-rtw-spring-2011-3310300?city=paris

Licensed to ill: Pierre Cardin says he's 'ashamed' of his current designs - http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2010/09/29/2010-09-29_the_man_who_licensed_his_world_pierre_cardin_says_hes_ashamed_of_his_current_des.html

Paris Fashion Week: Pierre Cardin Spring/Summer 2011 - http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/hilary-alexander/TMG8032925/Paris-Fashion-Week-Pierre-Cardin-springsummer-2011.html

Pierre Cardin is 88, Loves Gaga, And in Very Good Shape - http://www.styleite.com/runway/pierre-cardin-lady-gaga/