Veronique Branquinho's exhibiton at MoMu
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I can’t wait until March 12, because then the Antwerp Fashion Museum will present the exhibition "Moi, Veronique Branquinho TOuTe NUe", marking the tenth anniversary of the Veronique Branquinho designer label. Branquinho graduated from the fashion department of the Antwerp Royal Academy in 1995. She first presented her women’s collection in Paris in October of 1997. In 2003, she added her men’s line and opened her flagship store in Antwerp.
The press statement sure made me very curious: “In this first retrospective exhibition, the designer lets us look inside her ambiguous, suggestive world, where birch forests bathe in moonlight and men warm themselves around a fireplace with glasses of whiskey. She gives an overview of the themes and atmospheres that have been decisive in her work and give her collections her unique signature. References to film, photography and music, which continue to reappear in her presentations and visual language, will also receive ample attention. The woman in Veronique’s oeuvre is at once innocent and erotic, playful yet severe, mysterious and always complex. Returning elements, such as long dresses and concealing capes make one curious, never giving everything away.”
Furthermore, Veronique Branquinho has invited the Blitz collective – writer Oscar van den Boogaard, actor Steven Van Watermeulen and Sven Grooten of B-architects – to help her hone her concept and scenography for the exhibition, which will run through Sunday, 17 August, 2008. I’m sure this will a very interesting and creative retrospective, showing us a little more of the creative world in which Branquinho lives.
I’ve always loved her designs, they are as elegant as they are original. Sometimes the women’s collection can be a little masculine, but the clothes will always have a very feminine feel, because of the rich materials and eye for detail. In a sneak preview of the spring 2008 collection, I noticed a lot of beautiful colors, which remind me of antique jewelry: emerald green, gold, silver… I furthermore love the combination of neutrals with bold colors, and I am glad to see Branquinho use black tights in her spring collection. Personally, I love the tights with the neutral colored sandals.
The men’s collection is very fashion forward, and can be a little excentric. Next season’s collection features a modern take on suits, with pants that might remind you abit of pajama pants. But they are combined with smart jackets and sharp shirts, so it might work for me. I especially love the awesome coats Veronique put in this spring’s collection. It might take a daring attitude to don the silver vest, but I am all for men making such a stylish statement.
I know it hasn’t been Christmas yet, but with previews of such wonderful collections like Branquinho’s, it’s hard not to wish for spring to hurry up!
xx Steph
