MM6 Maison Martin Margiela & Opening Ceremony

While traveling the fashion week circuit, sometimes you need a break from runway shows to relax, to touch and feel a collection. During Mercedes Benz New York Fashion week, I took a break to go check out one of my favorite design houses, Maison Martin Margiela’s debut of the Fall 2011. The capsule collection was an effort with the trendy NYC retailer Opening Ceremony.

It was the brand from start to finish when we entered the studio of Staff USA, NYC. The entire PR team had the symbolic white lab coats on, except one who had a fab white sweater with gold buttons on the shoulder.

The clothes and accessories that comprise the capsule were on display; a cool element were the models that also came out wearing the looks. Why, you might ask? Because they demonstrated how to wear them, something that Viktor & Rolf have also done in the past.

The first-ever Margiela brand collaboration features adaptable looks—20 in total, or 60 if you split them into components; they work together in nearly numberless ways. The easy way to explain the concept is essentially, layers over layers. Clothes that are easy to pack and take with you.

Example: a fitted, quilted leather bomber with short sleeves. Its partner, a shiny nylon jacket with sleeves that matched the bomber leather. Each piece could be worn separately, or they could be put together for a seamless look.

For that matter, they could be slotted together with other looks; the nylon bomber lining, for instance, looked rather smart underneath a chubby faux fur with sleeves cut off at the same length as the bomber. The leather and denim leggings with the stirrup straps are a must buy from the collection.

MM6, haven’t yet decided whether this collaboration is a one-off or if it will be a recurring effort. As a MM6 fan myself, finger crossed this is not a one off and the design team will realize that there is a niche in the market for limited edition MM6.