Yves-Jean
Lacasse’s impeccably formal tailoring had a hint of unabashed eastern
opulence in the exquisite fabrics, many made or embroidered in India
to the designer’s exacting specifications
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THIS PAGE: Envers by Yves-Jean
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There were pants as leggings for men and women,
with lacing details, and unexpected slits. Throughout, a mad panoply
of shirring, pleating, lacing and cutout, a harmonious dissonance
of layerings and textures. Still with a nod to the new wave of Belgian
designers, he seemed to take fencing uniforms as a main inspiration.
Yet it was all so skilfully deployed by the designer, Gagnon has
evolved with a very sure, confident voice of his own. So much so,
the normally reserved designer stormed down the runway après
show with Lagerfeld-ish bravado, flinging silver and gold leaves
at the crowd.
Then it was off to an outdoor event, at the Château
Ambroise. This large complex houses condo-dwellers plus art studios—and
the atelier of Yves-Jean Lacasse. This time around the designer’s
Envers collection drew inspiration entirely from nineteenth-century
India. The Hans Koechling-orchestrated event got under way as evening
fell, with the audience lining a torch-lined makeshift runway on
the groomed lawn. The strains of chamber music played by I Musici
de Montréal, whom Lacasse is dressing up for their 20th anniversary
year, wafted over.
CONTINUED
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