Goot Strokes

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Whilst Josh Goot's strip-lighted big tamale of a show may have started with a series of solid blank canvases as seen in this post-show gathering here…

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… at the end of the day, it was the printwork that spoke to me not because there was a particular motif that I took a shining to, but because the application of Goot's prints have loosened up from the precise, perpendicular placement that he explored with his last A/W 11-12 lightning bolt and star scape filled collection.  This time round, Goot has the German painter Gerhard Richter to thank for the inspiration of his print story.  The scraped on dabs of paint, the depiction of motion and speed as well as the repetition and obscuring of subjects are all employed in Goot's prints mimicking the spirit of Richter's work.  Yet it is the way the print has been used to selectively cover Goot's precise and streamlined silhouettes that is quite intriging.  It's almost as if Goot masked off areas or printed the fabric with specific colours missing, like the effect of a printer that has run out of an ink cartridge or two.  The silhouette might have been controlled and tightened up in comparison to the last collection but the prints have dripped and dropped on them in a slightly more freehand way.  I have a longstanding relationship with all things painterly of course after being encouraged to go wild with my A-Level art canvases with brushloads of acrylic paint so it stands to reason that I should be taken with Goot's flurries of printwork that for me, are far better off, now that they're not depicting any literal thematic motif. 

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Richter's influence doesn't end at the prints as I had to keep diverting my attention from dresses to feet to catch a better glimpse of these acrylic rainbow heels.  I was so intrigued by the construction, I rushed backstage and got yelled at in the process, just to take a closer look at them.  I think the models were wondering why I wasn't there to take pictures of them. 

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On a 'digital' note because seemingly that's supposed to be my guru-subject, the last time I spoke to Goot, he said he had something special up his sleeve for his new website.  A year later and his website is now a grid-like image-fest that presents his collections and brand imagery and more important provides him with functional as well as a beautifully designed e-commerce element.  It's all down to the work of Portable, a multi-functioning agency that acts as PR firm, content-driven website as well as a digital creative studio, who are defintiely doing interesting things as a company.     

14 comments

  2. the shapes look so pure and sophisticated, it is like a little bit of architectural dresses and skirts. i love the skirts so so much because of the amazing prints. it is all about print and colors, but those prints look very new and fresh. normally i don’t like things were it looks like they threw the paint at the canvas. but these prints look different, almost like they are controlled and orchestrated. oh and the heels are divine, i am in love with the balenciaga’s of last season, so these babies, i love them too

  7. Goot has put a nice twist on the printed pattern revival. Fabulous striped design on the heels. Hope to see it in stores next season! UK Fashion Blog http://www.thinkingfashion.org

  12. Your integration of artworks amongst the clothing is brilliant! It adds a lot to this post visually. I’m a softie for the painterly aesthetic myself, so I’m in love with the prints, naturally. Glad you got some detail shots of the shoes! They’re really interesting. I can’t imagine you getting yelled at though, aha!

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