Viktor & Rolf dressed vampires in Haute Couture

"Vampires are people too!" – perhaps under this slogan one of the most unusual shows of the Paris Fashion Week was presented. Viktor & Rolf Spring/Summer 2022 Haute Сouture collection was inspired by the Dracula, the Adams family and everything associating with darkness and fear. As conceived by Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, the collection was supposed to reflect the fear of change and the unknown that exists in modern society in 2022. Needless to say, it turned out really ominously: with the help of special lighting, gothic models cast eerie shadows, the raised shoulders of jackets and raincoats reinforced the feeling that there were a fantastic creatures on the podium. Vampire-looked long stiletto nails and dark lipstick completed the looks. Tuxedos, dresses with bows and frills, raincoats and trouser suits with the raised-shoulder sleeves formed the basis of the collection. This effect was achieved with a specially designed corset that was first introduced by Viktor & Rolf in 1993. The creators of the vampire collection assure that without corsets all models look quite human. Vintage nightgowns and sculptural ball dresses, embellished with sequins, embroidered faded flowers and brocade prints in a muted color palette of white and black were the most attractive part of the show.

Eco-friendly materials were used for tailoring, and platform shoes were created in collaboration with the Brazilian brand Melissa. The designers admit that their main task was to transform fear into something beautiful: “Fear can be overwhelming. There is always a reason to be afraid of something, especially about the uncertainty of the future, but emotions need to be controlled and used creatively”, they explained. Viktor & Rolf is a Dutch avant-garde luxury fashion house that has been trying to blur the line between fashion and art for more than twenty years. Designers Victor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren created their first collection in 1993. In recent years, the brand has not released new collections.