Confessions of a Fashion Writer: Yohji Yamamoto Men's F/W 2009

Yohji Yamamoto transformed sleepwear into street wear. Avante garde Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto had an apparition right before he went to sleep and came up with a luminous idea and reflected that vision into his collection. He believed that the most luxurious moment for him was right before going to sleep and with that in mind he decided to create this collection of converting night attire for street wear. Oversized pajama suits came in colors of navy and white polka dots paired with a trench coat or a blazer. There was also an enormous amount of attention paid to the underwear, kilts and leggings. Boxers and underwear were made in silks and came in a pin-stripe or prints of tigers and snakes. Yamamoto added his unique avante garde touch and had the models wear the underwear on the outside over the pants and the leggings. The kilt was mildly awkward and there was the culottes, resembles a skirt and was at knee-length, that were worn over leggings and paired with bulky jackets and long redingote overcoat. Yamamoto took lounge wear to a whole new level and added a luxurious comfort to street wear.

The show was held at Les Halles in Yamamoto’s European headquarters show room. Along with a casting of models were a few inferior looking men that were unshaven and bearded adding a special avante garde touch. The show opened with a black wool blazer and an ankle length kilt paired with fluffy slippers and a black fedora. A look that seemed to have a hint of orthodox priest enthused in it but had the comfortable touch once the blazer was removed. References to bed wear chic were also seen in a bathrobe made to look like an overcoat and a quilted comforter altered into a jacket. A couple of coats were worn inside out adding to the idea of inside wear turned outside, that might have had a message that the Yamamoto man has nothing to hide with this collection.

Admired pieces in the collection would have to be the comfortable and luxurious oversized silk pajamas that came in navy and white polka dots. Another unique piece was Yamamoto’s wool cardigan overcoat and the chunky sweater that it was paired with. The oversized jackets were also exceptionally appealing.

Yohji Yamamoto has luminously transformed sleepwear to street wear with this collection adding his own personal avante garde touch. This collection gives a comfortable and relaxed touch for the next winter season. The Yamamoto man is comfortable and ready to bring his sleep attire to the streets and along with him to work. –Brent Billiman, Paris, France.

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