I wasn’t always the useless lemon that I’ve become these days due to work overload. Despite only getting three days in Sao Paulo last month, I felt it would have been pretty demented and wrong to turn down the offer of visiting a Brazilian designer’s studio. Lucius very kindly emailed me after finding out that I was indeed randomly in Sao Paulo and asked if I was up for being interviewed for a project him and his boss Walter Rodrigues were in the process of.
Less about the project. More about the boss – Walter Rodrigues – aka one of the most renowned designers in Brazil who has had an enduring career and at one point was showing at Paris fashion week for a period of time. I felt very nervous for some reason beforehand, something to do with the fact that I’ve only really met young designers previously and also because I am generally a wuss about these things. Silly fears really, as Walter was really really sweet and was kind enough to show me around his studio, his workspace, introduced me to his staff and seeing as I had done two nights of solitude in a hotel room, with nothing but Fox News (quite possibly the most hilarious news channel on the earth…) to keep me company, I was just grateful for any sort of decent human interaction. He asked about my Topshop gladiator sandals, first asking if they were Sergio Rossi or Balenciaga to which I sheepishly answered ‘Umm…no…Topshop…’ and he said ‘Ah…but you make them look like they are Balenciaga.’ Awww…shucks…
Here are the deets I picked up from his ‘Audrey Hepburn goes to China’ SS09 collection which was shown at Rio fashion week back in June but the catwalk images below actually are far superior in demonstrating the detailing and craftsmanship that Rodrigues puts into his clothes. As the title of the collection suggests, elegance is abound and so is sophistication, two things that people have said I distinctly lack. Oh well, I can appreciate from a far anyhow even if the two are out of my reach. Scroll down and ye shall see those two things don’t have to necessarily mean something instantly forgettable which to me means there’s some hope for me yet… I’ll just put it down to my misguided youth…
Walter also gave me a sort of retrospective book of his collections which alas is in Portugese but thankfully has many images that need no text to explain the links between the various historical epochs and cultural references he has used over the years and then translated them onto his collections…
Samurai suits and 17th century armour in one of my favourite Walter Rodrigues collections AW02.
The shapes of the dresses together with the accessories are somehow regal and edgy at the same time.
The volume in Japanese kimono gets pared down into simpler shapes for SS00.
Peruvian traditional costumes inspire prints for AW01
The jingly gangly coin/metal embellishments of the Hmong tribe in Thailand get transplanted onto floaty dresses for SS03.
Again, the decorative wear of the Hmong tribe gets revisited for AW07, this time with an emphasis on embroidery.
Remember that black sequinned PVC fabric which I was so enamoured with? As somebody pointed out, yes it was indeed especially made for Walter’s SS09 collection and I love the way he has used it in the draped dresses and tops… no mean feat to get it to look fluid…
The texture of this metallic threaded elastic is quite interesting…
I was in fringing heaven when Walter showed me these dresses as he had somehow made it look less messy than my own fringed garments by fixing them into these beautiful curves on the dress…
The black-grey-pale pink ombre effect is really stunning…
Why doesn’t it surprise me that my favourite dress of the collection is this feathered number? Try as I might but I can’t quite banish my feather fetish just yet… the small and fine feathers are attached onto larger frayed scallops of fabric so together they give the appearance of an enlarged feather…
This is long overdue but thank you Walter and Lucius for giving me something to ponder about other than why the Fox news channel is so overly enthusiastic in its news delivery…
i really like how the last dress looks and seems to be flying in the air..
ohlala! hopefully this will prompt other designers to invite you to them, what a cool post
Wow, the Hmong inspired designs are beautiful. Seeing beautiful clothing inspired by my culture makes me quite proud, I must say.
I really like his style and he seems like a genuinely nice person. Great designer his things from 2000 are just as intruiging now as they were then.
I actually just exclaimed “Jesus!” out loud when I saw that salmon dress. He sounds incredibly sweet, which makes his wares even more alluring.
Very cool inspiration and those stockings…mmm…
P.S. You do manage to make Topshop look like Balenciaga.
P.P.S. Isn’t elegance an euphemism for lacking originality and style courage?
i LOVE THAT black webbey dress
4th from the bottom
I love the detailing in the pictures… the flowers are beautiful. I also adore the Japanese kimono sytle dress; very cute!!!
Liking the black, shiny stuff.
Dearest Suzana,I’m very proud to be here…..I’m ASTONISH…..I hope to see you again in the next january for my Fashion Show in Rio – Fashion Rio AW 2009.
Thanks for all.Kisses.Walter.
Hi
i make walter words .. my words too !
i will be very excited for u to come. We loved what u wrote , thanks. We are doing the video for our project and the interview that u gave us , helped a lot , thanks again!
Kisses and hugs
Lucius
Fabulous post – what an interesting insight. you do need a proper holiday though!
Loved the feather dress to – it made me regret not having a feather wedding dress that I was too scared to make!
Fabulous post – what an interesting insight. you do need a proper holiday though!
Loved the feather dress to – it made me regret not having a feather wedding dress that I was too scared to make!
Fabulous post – what an interesting insight. you do need a proper holiday though!
Loved the feather dress to – it made me regret not having a feather wedding dress that I was too scared to make!
Fabulous post – what an interesting insight. you do need a proper holiday though!
Loved the feather dress to – it made me regret not having a feather wedding dress that I was too scared to make!
Fabulous post – what an interesting insight. you do need a proper holiday though!
Loved the feather dress to – it made me regret not having a feather wedding dress that I was too scared to make!
Wow, these are just amazing… I love how they translate ethnic costumes to beautiful couture. I had never heard of them before, thanks for bringing this up.
wow, i love some of the stuff featured, quite cutting edge don’t u think? And he sounds like a super sweet person too! Awwww! x
Oh wow, fascinating! I love seeing the inspirations,
and I’m drawn to the Hmong tribe dresses.
Love the feathers. Love the fringe. Love learning about designers who aren’t all over the blog radar.
Amazing!! It’s nice to see something so elegant out of brazil, usu all i see out of the brazil fashion week is the swimwear.
the clothes are so detailed.. and his inspirations are all so unique!!
i love the shiny black
I`m very proud of seeing a brazilian designer on stylebubble.com, specially when the designer is Walter Rodrigues! I come here almost every day but its the first time that I post a comment ( first of many, you can be sure!). I`m very proud of my country, and reading your words about his outstanding work, only make me even more proud of being brazilian!!! Congratulations to Walter, congratulations to you!
– If you have some time come visit me on my blog to!
http://www.iboatelier.com/blog
I almost forgot, and if you like handbags:
http://www.iboatelier.com.br
Kisses from Brazil
The colours of two last images are very very pretty ^^
http://ivoreece-style.blogspot.com/
the way he uses typically ostentatious materials is really inspiring, thanks for the pictures.
Those runway looks are slick. I love them.
Seeing how the different pictures of inspiraton translated onto the runway is really interesting. Love the picture of the floaty black dress with those lace up boots!
he has really important work here in brazil and his references are always breathtaking. it is an great fashion exercise for us to undarstand his themes and to relate it in his creations. he’s the first name that comes in mind when we think about gorgeous, really feminine and sensual (in a very chic way) dresses. and the faaaaaaaabrics, oh! =)
This reminds me even more of the need to start looking beyond the Big Four fashion capitals for clothing inspiration- these are absolutely gorgeous! (and great writeup, the designer sounds like a lovely person). It’s great to get to know about designers this way..
PS: I can’t help but appreciate the use of ‘ethnic’ elements in the clothing, it’s been done in a rather non-literal way and it all looks fantastic.
Wow…his creations are impecable! i’ seriously impressed with that pvc dress…and i very much like the peruvian inspired peaces. You’re so lucky to have got a tour!wow…
are those stockings that lace up in the back by him too?? i must get them. please let me know where i can purchase them
Absolutely fabulous dress. Hope everything is going well for you, Susie.
these are absolutely gorgeous! the peach black gradients are amazing… i love the contrast.