NYFW: Desigual Heads to the Jungle for Spring/Summer 2018

Desigual unveiled its Spring/Summer 2018 show at New York Fashion Week.  This was not the typical quirky but charming Desigual show.   This collection for Spring 2018 was Jean-Paul Goude’s first step as Artistic Director of the brand.  Goude was tasked with creating a presentation that would bring both bold novelty and unique appeal to complement Desigual’s trademark point of view, which celebrates optimism and individuality.

The eyes have it in this embroidered tunic from the Desigual Spring Summer 2018 collection (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images For Desigual )

According to Desigual:

  “The women’s fashion Spring/Summer 2018 collection was inspired by a voyage through different types of jungles; exotic, psychedelic, and more. It blended cross-cultural references in a panoply of color and creativity, optimism and singularity and non-conformity and vitality: the silhouettes were casual but textured, including everything from raffia to polka-dots, and there was an emphasis on looseness and pattern.”

The Desigual fashion show during New York Fashion Week  (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images For Desigual )

The very eccentric collection  included color-blocked knit sweaters, interweaving mesh and marine striping..  There were  kimono and pajama volumes cut with fluid fabrics. Jackets—on the shorter side, in leather or denim—were complemented by golden accent jewelry, while bohemian skirts and dresses were treated with odd geometric prints. Tahitian flowers, palm groves and even a Mickey Mouse print were also in the mix.

The Spring/Summer 2018 show also included a 16-piece capsule collection called “Desigual Couture” designed by Jean-Paul Goude himself, which further represented the intersection of his and Desigual’s unique aesthetic approaches. Describing his creative involvement, Goude says he sought to champion: “cultural diversity, street-chic as a democratized form of Couture, festivity, originality, rhythm, and humor—these are the values that not only refer to Desigual’s DNA, but to my own, as well. Let’s say we are on the same wavelength.”

Desigual’s distinctive pajama style for Spring Summer 2018 at New York Fashion Week. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images For Desigual )

I have to be honest,  there was very little from either collection that I feel will please Desigual customers.  Personally, I miss the touch of Christian LaCroix.  This collection was just too strange.   I don’t see retailers buying this or selling it.  What do you think readers?