after prufrock

There is something garishly delectable about Gareth Pugh’s work. His solid, architectural aesthetic melds progressively with the gothic, the treacherous, and the peculiar. And despite claims that his style has yet to experience a commercial “evolution”, the debate between whether the pieces are sellable or mere works of art feels exceedingly tedious when attending to the visual assessment of his work. What is of interest is not whether the designer is the darling of the elite fashion world, or whether he can barely afford to live in a shoebox with two meager powerpoints (obviously reserved for the sewing machines, never the heating). Rather, what is of import is the role his vision plays in a fashion world dominated by commercially motivated fashion designers, who are more interested in setting trends then stretching both the physical and the transcendental boundaries of the cloth.

Of course, being experimental doesn’t necessarily equate to something of quality, but you really only need to glance at Pugh’s pieces to recognise his geometrical precision, the craftsmanship of his designs. What especially impresses me is his fluidity in using immense volume and his utter fearlessness in exploiting the silhouette. And whilst it’s hard not to admit that each upcoming season takes on a feeling of increasing familiarity, I think it’s fair to assume that Pugh has plenty more sparks up his sleeve with which to electrify us in the future.

[Left to Right: Fall 06, Fall 08, Spring 07]

Gareth Pugh Official Site