TAO Fall 2010 Paris

Tao is such a gem, not only within the CdG universe but in her own right entirely. Her style is very derivative, very Japanese but her signature design traits are so distinct that they speak so loudly, making her work instantly recognizable. In this collection, she does an amazing job at showcasing her unique abilities, such as the restrictive gathering, the skewed proportions and the unapologetic clash of colors, patterns and materials. Each piece of hers is so incredibly thoughtful and is a world of interest in and of itself and especially because of that, I am loving the runway styling; the heavy layering and general unusuality of the combinations just reinforce how powerful and fearless her vision is. I have such admiration and respect for her talent and always look forward to seeing what she'll grace us with, and couldn't be more thrilled by all of the beauty she's graced us with this season.

TAO Comme des Garçons Spring 2010

Add another one on to the list of unexpectedness, but this one is most intriguing to me. As any long time TAO worshipper would be, I was sort of taken aback by the presentation alone. Not in a bad way, it is just so different than her usual runway vibe that it was a definite surprise. Looking beyond the styling, though, you can easily find a number of beautiful pieces and see the complex and inventive spirit that she is known for. There are a lot of nice basics as well as some really stand out pieces, which I’m sure the craftsmanship is amazing on, as always. The best parts for me this season are definitely the range of amazing textures, and of course… the boots.

TAO Comme des Garçons Fall 2009

Tao Kurihara is exactly what the CdG ‘universe’ has been needing. Rei and Junya are both amazing but they are who they are, and taking Tao in has proved to have been a great choice. While she’s heavy-handed with the CdG aesthetic, her look is all her own. She’s progressively been bringing out her playful, fantasy-like designs.

The collection for this season is the total lovechild of her SS07 and FW08… topped with a heavy dose of theatrics and classic CdG design techniques tweaked with what’s becoming her signature subtle-but-impactful flair. I love how she is getting more and more multi-dimensional with her detailing… it’s bringing an extra covetable angle to her work.

I am particularly obsessed with and immediately need to acquire the cinched trousers. The placement of them on the trouser is so perfect and gives off such great shape overall. All of the skirts are just beyond words, really. The ones which are tiered are also pleated and the combined effect is so gorgeous. The ruched skirts are of course incredible, too… Tao’s ruching skills are so unique as she always adds her unique touch to them and it shows. I love the gathered and twisted ones also. the way the fabric looks when it’s all bound up like that creates such a beautiful illusion.

While I personally love the styling of this show, I worry because when designers such as Tao, Rei, Bernhard Willhelm, etc, do such elaborate styling, that it deters a lot of people from noticing how genius the pieces are. I just hope the business won’t be a deterrent because this is so fantastic.