Full Frontal Fashion

As someone who is a fan of avant garde’ fashion, drools at the over-the-top antics of John Galliano and Alexander McQueen and thinks Lady Gaga is a genius, it takes a lot for a runway look to shock me. But when designer Isabel Mastache debuted her new collection at Madrid Fashion Week, even I left speechless.

What started as quirky- weird squid scarves and face swallowing head pieces, turned to down-right odd when a male model strutted down the runway with a white plush hand hanging from his black blazer. The extra appendage was awkward and strange but I would quickly learn it was just a preview for Mastache’s real show stealer.

There, paired with a decorated blazer and fake arm, dangling from white trousers were simulated man bits. Whoever said the Rolling Stone’s Sticky Fingers album cover was vulgar had no idea how much manhood could actually be put on display. While the trousers of course don’t reveal any actual nudity or even any outline of the real deal, the plush penis pants were paraded down the runway and met with gasps. Was it meant to be funny? Meant to be ironic? The idea of avant garde’ fashion is to push the envelope, invoke reaction and express creativity but I question whether this shocking stunt had any true artistic intentions. Almost seemed like a desperate attempt to get press….which quite frankly worked since I’m writing about her.

Surely this ridiculous style won’t be catching on in ultra conservative Washington but can you imagine if it did? Senators letting it all hang out on their pin stripe suits? On second thought, maybe I do support this. Capitol Hill could use a little humor in its wardrobe.

Isabel Mastache Runway