In 2014 Rei Kawakubo, founder and creative director of Japanese-based avant-garde fashion house Comme des Garçons, made a powerful declaration, that after over forty years of designing radical, forward-thinking ready-to-wear the Tokyo native would be abandoning clothing to focus on creating “objects for the body”. This move away from traditional forms of dress was never more evident than within the ‘garments’ Kawakubo presented for fall/winter 2017.
This season, the designer focused on addressing ‘the future of silhouette’ through a variety of bulbous looks, some even with no armholes, in exaggeratedly ‘out there’ proportions. Kawakubo largely abandoned the use of traditional fabrics this season, instead using brown packing paper, silver insulation material, and recycled fabric waste in their place. As typical, Kawakubo worked with hair magician Julien d’Ys to create accompanying object for each models’ head. This season d’Ys rendered similarly unpredictable rounded forms out of steel wool, completing Kawakubo’s ‘far out’ vision to absolute perfection.
![Cdg fw 2017 muse board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5mNA8ZIZnqoeiWGUA8C4im/cada4902e463d323e87343bf3b16f649/CdG_FW_2017_Muse_Board.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
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Elizabeth Taylor
Doctor Faustus, 1967
![Elizabeth taylor doctor faustus 1967](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5JtSPjCKOWCe6OwWO2QUce/bd1402c83d54dc4705e19610bc1b0d94/ELIZABETH_TAYLOR_DOCTOR_FAUSTUS__1967__.jpg)
Louise Bourgeois
Wearing a latex cast of her work “Avenza,” 1975
![Bourgeois in 1975 wearing a latex cast of her work avenza](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3IqQ94qfIsASy4EIWGuIkS/2999daca72e20117c84ba1060ffaab5f/Bourgeois_in_1975__wearing_a_latex_cast_of_her_work____Avenza____.jpg)
Frank Gehry
American Center in Paris, France, 1994
![Frank gehry s american center in paris 1994](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3yJlMhk8Mog46kWweSEISq/d11b4b5fd1d375beef712e7384d5660b/Frank_Gehry_s_American_Center_in_Paris__1994.jpg)
Ernesto Neto
Follicle Ovoid (Nicky), 1998
![Ernesto neto follicle ovoid nicky 1998](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/39MiuqeAycckKOqkMAKMII/9f5baa69f9041d34ef8579e10b437969/Ernesto_Neto__Follicle_Ovoid__Nicky___1998.gif)
Ron Arad
Big Easy Volume 2 Sofa, 1988
![Ron arad big easy volume 2 sofa 1988](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/oerjclHHaKaeMkMwKyo2m/d831eb05a238df2e55dcca753c4f2ec9/Ron_Arad__Big_Easy_Volume_2_Sofa__1988.jpg)
Edward Weston
Peperone, 1929
![Edward weston peperone 1929](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2bRaLjyjVeee2uSsI4MEmM/a0471ee20156e91b76351ca3ca9c6471/Edward_Weston__Peperone__1929.jpg)
Ilse Fehling
Globular Stage for Puppets, 1920-21
Oskar Schlemmer
The Triadic Ballet, 1922
![1439876194718 1](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/D35R1xKAdau8iCy0k8yoo/97f09d8dba54f5a6fa7a311b3bee0738/1439876194718-1.jpeg)
Ernesto Neto
Humanoids
![Ernesto neto humanoids](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2tjwb59t6kaaosYOmIgiC8/63801b5c5e1147370760053ffc03e0a8/Ernesto_Neto_-_Humanoids.jpg)
Salvador Dali
Costume designs for “Le Ballet Des Vendangeurs” (The Grape Pickers' Ballet), 1953
![Salvador dali costume designs for le ballet des vendangeurs the grape pickers ballet 1953](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3Aacp7dg2kGa2oCaWSqakU/27dbaa86cd44ae0a558590429aa80afc/Salvador_Dali__Costume_designs_for__Le_Ballet_Des_Vendangeurs___The_Grape_Pickers__Ballet___1953.jpg)
Guy Bourdin
Silver Ringlets
![Silver ringlets guy bourdin](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4HyuYRz9CEGwieQwGS8wO6/7659a3616b42020ed14dd8143d4ed28b/Silver_Ringlets_-_Guy_Bourdin.jpg)
Anish Kapoor
My Red Homeland, 2003
![Anish kapoor my red homeland 2003](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4Jb8ltGLRK2cGIymAQi40O/664b9df759795edecb0e773da3f48c97/Anish_Kapoor__My_Red_Homeland__2003.jpg)
Gunnar Aagaard Andersen
Armchair, 1964
![Gunnar aagaard andersen armchair 1964](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/52HWTCN11SCkYeqoa6YGYM/097e96788031e19b72d352a9add01434/Gunnar_Aagaard_Andersen__Armchair__1964.jpg)
Irving Penn
Nude No. 100, New York, 1949/50
![Irving penn 1917 2009 nude no. 100 new york 1949 50](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4zE91wHM5isoi4M2wIuiUS/138464b1f7bbeba3f28071315703929c/Irving_Penn__1917-2009__Nude_No._100__New_York__1949_50.jpg)
Irving Penn
Nude No. 105, New York, 1949/50
![Irving penn nude no. 105 1949 50](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1B6lUKigxeQcMAkqMGGIKy/db8283d8c9888f64b30310e44c8a75f1/Irving_Penn__Nude_No._105__1949_50.jpg)
Jean Cocteau
La Révolte des Équipages (The Revolt of the Crews), from “Opium: Journal d’une Désintoxication,” 1919
![Jean cocteau opium drawing 1919 la r volte des quipages](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3j0ARQY33OG02IkAWoACGa/4dd5b938164bbbe801432beae79f6bdb/Jean_Cocteau_Opium_Drawing__1919__La_r__volte_des___quipages.jpeg)
Louise Bourgeois
The Couple, 2003
![Louise bourgeois french american the couple aluminum hanging piece](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/22hBfiDVuM2CgqusyO8Um4/f45395a8d834aaf1c9e579ea04ec738c/Louise_Bourgeois__French-American__The_Couple__Aluminum__hanging_piece.jpg)
Louise Bourgeois
Untitled, 1998
![Louise bourgeois. untitled 1998. fabric and steel](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/y3zJEA25rMm0OqkmQYWi2/f053abd9fe2f938f8200c24bea670a2a/Louise_Bourgeois._Untitled_1998._Fabric_and_steel.jpg)
Lygia Pape's performance “Divisor”
Restaged in Hong Kong, 1968
![Lygia pape s 1968 performance divisor restaged in hong kong.](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/48oQCL1QUgEQqiO88wWAYS/8bb79a6aa5c13d2faec30520f81da33c/Lygia_Pape_s_1968_performance____Divisor____restaged_in_Hong_Kong._.jpg)
Natsuyuki Nakanishi
Rhyme-S, 1960
![Natsuyuki nakanishi rhyme s 1960](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4ATdrtkAZyg4imYKwEUE2Q/26ce4ae79682e6886993412bcb75dac3/Natsuyuki_Nakanishi__Rhyme-S__1960.jpg)
Peter Agostini
Cage II, 1967
![Peter agostini](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/47mI1SvuQoCssuAUqiO28C/2b5d47090b72b24d6a58aeff88d64607/peter_agostini.jpg)
References
![Elizabeth taylor doctor faustus 1967](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5JtSPjCKOWCe6OwWO2QUce/bd1402c83d54dc4705e19610bc1b0d94/ELIZABETH_TAYLOR_DOCTOR_FAUSTUS__1967__.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Elizabeth Taylor
Doctor Faustus, 1967
1 of 21
![Bourgeois in 1975 wearing a latex cast of her work avenza](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3IqQ94qfIsASy4EIWGuIkS/2999daca72e20117c84ba1060ffaab5f/Bourgeois_in_1975__wearing_a_latex_cast_of_her_work____Avenza____.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Louise Bourgeois
Wearing a latex cast of her work “Avenza,” 1975
2 of 21
![Frank gehry s american center in paris 1994](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3yJlMhk8Mog46kWweSEISq/d11b4b5fd1d375beef712e7384d5660b/Frank_Gehry_s_American_Center_in_Paris__1994.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Frank Gehry
American Center in Paris, France, 1994
3 of 21
![Ernesto neto follicle ovoid nicky 1998](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/39MiuqeAycckKOqkMAKMII/9f5baa69f9041d34ef8579e10b437969/Ernesto_Neto__Follicle_Ovoid__Nicky___1998.gif?w=1000&q=70)
Ernesto Neto
Follicle Ovoid (Nicky), 1998
4 of 21
![Ron arad big easy volume 2 sofa 1988](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/oerjclHHaKaeMkMwKyo2m/d831eb05a238df2e55dcca753c4f2ec9/Ron_Arad__Big_Easy_Volume_2_Sofa__1988.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Ron Arad
Big Easy Volume 2 Sofa, 1988
5 of 21
![Edward weston peperone 1929](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2bRaLjyjVeee2uSsI4MEmM/a0471ee20156e91b76351ca3ca9c6471/Edward_Weston__Peperone__1929.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Edward Weston
Peperone, 1929
6 of 21
Ilse Fehling
Globular Stage for Puppets, 1920-21
7 of 21
![1439876194718 1](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/D35R1xKAdau8iCy0k8yoo/97f09d8dba54f5a6fa7a311b3bee0738/1439876194718-1.jpeg?w=1000&q=70)
Oskar Schlemmer
The Triadic Ballet, 1922
8 of 21
![Ernesto neto humanoids](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2tjwb59t6kaaosYOmIgiC8/63801b5c5e1147370760053ffc03e0a8/Ernesto_Neto_-_Humanoids.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Ernesto Neto
Humanoids
9 of 21
![Salvador dali costume designs for le ballet des vendangeurs the grape pickers ballet 1953](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3Aacp7dg2kGa2oCaWSqakU/27dbaa86cd44ae0a558590429aa80afc/Salvador_Dali__Costume_designs_for__Le_Ballet_Des_Vendangeurs___The_Grape_Pickers__Ballet___1953.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Salvador Dali
Costume designs for “Le Ballet Des Vendangeurs” (The Grape Pickers' Ballet), 1953
10 of 21
![Silver ringlets guy bourdin](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4HyuYRz9CEGwieQwGS8wO6/7659a3616b42020ed14dd8143d4ed28b/Silver_Ringlets_-_Guy_Bourdin.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Guy Bourdin
Silver Ringlets
11 of 21
![Anish kapoor my red homeland 2003](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4Jb8ltGLRK2cGIymAQi40O/664b9df759795edecb0e773da3f48c97/Anish_Kapoor__My_Red_Homeland__2003.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Anish Kapoor
My Red Homeland, 2003
12 of 21
![Gunnar aagaard andersen armchair 1964](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/52HWTCN11SCkYeqoa6YGYM/097e96788031e19b72d352a9add01434/Gunnar_Aagaard_Andersen__Armchair__1964.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Gunnar Aagaard Andersen
Armchair, 1964
13 of 21
![Irving penn 1917 2009 nude no. 100 new york 1949 50](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4zE91wHM5isoi4M2wIuiUS/138464b1f7bbeba3f28071315703929c/Irving_Penn__1917-2009__Nude_No._100__New_York__1949_50.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Irving Penn
Nude No. 100, New York, 1949/50
14 of 21
![Irving penn nude no. 105 1949 50](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1B6lUKigxeQcMAkqMGGIKy/db8283d8c9888f64b30310e44c8a75f1/Irving_Penn__Nude_No._105__1949_50.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Irving Penn
Nude No. 105, New York, 1949/50
15 of 21
![Jean cocteau opium drawing 1919 la r volte des quipages](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3j0ARQY33OG02IkAWoACGa/4dd5b938164bbbe801432beae79f6bdb/Jean_Cocteau_Opium_Drawing__1919__La_r__volte_des___quipages.jpeg?w=1000&q=70)
Jean Cocteau
La Révolte des Équipages (The Revolt of the Crews), from “Opium: Journal d’une Désintoxication,” 1919
16 of 21
![Louise bourgeois french american the couple aluminum hanging piece](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/22hBfiDVuM2CgqusyO8Um4/f45395a8d834aaf1c9e579ea04ec738c/Louise_Bourgeois__French-American__The_Couple__Aluminum__hanging_piece.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Louise Bourgeois
The Couple, 2003
17 of 21
![Louise bourgeois. untitled 1998. fabric and steel](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/y3zJEA25rMm0OqkmQYWi2/f053abd9fe2f938f8200c24bea670a2a/Louise_Bourgeois._Untitled_1998._Fabric_and_steel.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Louise Bourgeois
Untitled, 1998
18 of 21
![Lygia pape s 1968 performance divisor restaged in hong kong.](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/48oQCL1QUgEQqiO88wWAYS/8bb79a6aa5c13d2faec30520f81da33c/Lygia_Pape_s_1968_performance____Divisor____restaged_in_Hong_Kong._.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Lygia Pape's performance “Divisor”
Restaged in Hong Kong, 1968
19 of 21
![Natsuyuki nakanishi rhyme s 1960](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4ATdrtkAZyg4imYKwEUE2Q/26ce4ae79682e6886993412bcb75dac3/Natsuyuki_Nakanishi__Rhyme-S__1960.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Natsuyuki Nakanishi
Rhyme-S, 1960
20 of 21
![Peter agostini](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/47mI1SvuQoCssuAUqiO28C/2b5d47090b72b24d6a58aeff88d64607/peter_agostini.jpg?w=1000&q=70)