Feathers Invade Fashion

Gladys Rodríguez-Dod
Exclusively By Rex Fabrics
Fine Fabrics from Around the World

High heels, spectacular earrings and feathers, it’s the trend that’s making waves. Rooster, goose or ostrich feathers, soft to the touch, colorful, white or black, they all take over today’s trend, causing furor and showing up in textiles, bags, hats and everything imaginable.

Feathers are not only filling the sports coats or ski jackets. They are absorbing star quality as much in Haute Couture designs as in the ready-to-wear. And if you think that it is only limited to the grand soirée gowns, you are wrong; they appear at day and night time.

I personally love them! I thought it was fascinating, and admired the mastery of the Haute Couture techniques, when Madame Carven presented her bridal designs with some exquisite feather detail... I loved it when you would see dresses on the Parisian runways with some feather details, sometimes creating a garment that was a reflection of nature inspired even in peacocks in all its glory.

Throughout the years, feathers have not enjoyed a very good reputation. We normally associated them with those huge boas that women of dubious reputation wore in European bars... then the cabaret showgirls appropriated them... until they reached the American strip teasers, who would take off their clothes little by little keeping a certain decorum with a huge feather fan to hide... what they should not show!

And if in the beginnings of fashion feathers were set aside to embellish hats and fans, today... everything is possible! Since we are more open to explore new avenues in styles, feathers have become a new tool to discover interesting and fun tendencies that prove to be sophisticated and elegant.

In the jewelry trade during the Art Deco movement, feathers appeared in the most spectacular pieces of the epoch; and I am sure that more than one woman lost her head with those platinum and diamond brooches crafted to perfection, who were worn in three sizes... achieving elegance to the maximum.

The new designs can be extravagant... full of fantasy... embracing us in its magic; or they can reveal restrained elegance. Everything is in the mood we are in at the moment... the variety is extraordinary.

ARMANI PRIVE showed the most sensational designs, and the rose colored suits with feather sleeves in the same tone exude great charm and luxury; while the fashion writers went crazy for the brilliant colored skinny pants in the runway of ALEXIS MABILLE worn with stunning jackets all splashed with white feathers.

Another option for the cocktail hour are NINA RICCI’s silk and chiffon dresses, in pastel shades with short skirts of ruffles with a subtle embellishment of feathers in the same tone.

For his part, RALPH RUCCI created a very modern look by combining white tops with fancy glittering materials, and adding an important waist detail of white feathers.

And for those grand galas in the winter we have the designs of SCHIAPARELLI, inspired in the past, of precious bodices covered with black feathers. They are pure magic!

Of course, for those women who have a tendency for drama, they have the hats of PHILIP TREACY, many of which remind us of native-American headdresses. And if what you want is just a simple detail, look for the handbags of JUDITH LIEBER, covered with stones and resembling the plumage of a peacock... They are simply heaven! Who dares?