Fashion or Art??

 The program for Maison Martin Margiella's Spring 2011 show hardly gave a hint as to what was coming- "Men's Wardrobe meets the woman's body." "Meet" is probably the right word, because the clothes almost felt like they were shaking hands with (or body parts anyway) with the model's on the ramp. Some fashion critics are applauding the brand's 2D depiction of clothing, calling it true art. One reviewer even went so far as to say that designers who sent wearable clothes down the runway weren't really designers at all, but were tailors. I completely disagree! Margiela is known for having the most innovative designs, as well as some brilliant concepts on the ramp. If you ever see a picture of a fashion show taken where the models' heads are completely covered, you can safely bet that it is taken from the archives of a Margiela show. The designer himself was never seen as he chose to never have his picture taken or give any interviews, and his clothing (along with the label on the outfit) has always been discreet, known simply for it's artistic cut and crazy shapes. The time Margiela did show his face to the world was shortly before he unofficially made an exit from the brand, and handed the reins over to his team, without appointing a creative director to replace him.
Either way, in today's day and age with the fashion conscious buyer being able to see pictures of the clothes tweeted from mobile phones while the show is taking place, having a show without wearable clothes is silly and pointless. With a brand that is already known for pushing the envelope on design, it would have been great to see what they could conjure up in the absence of their head designer, rather than come up with a gimmick that shows little of what the season will offer. I agree with style.com's reviewer when she, tongue-in-cheek, pronounced the collection... Flat. 
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