When Good Designers go Wrong

There are some times when, looking at a particularly ugly piece of designer clothing, I wonder what went wrong. Did the designer get too caught up in playing with structure and volume to worry about how the clothing item would appear on a person's body, or am I, a "normal person," a woefully inadequite judge? Either way, I don't understand it.

For example, the picture below from yesterday's Samora fashion show in L.A. is gorgeous. I think the deep, rich colors, the shape that accentuates (or creates) the model's curves, and the luxurious-looking fabric all make for a wonderful outfit.


And yet, in that same show, there was also the outfit showed below. The pants are basic and fine, but that top makes me shudder. When a top makes a model look thick, you can only imagine how unflattering it would be on a typical woman. The puff sleeves, while a nice concept, create a broad-shouldered, broad-armed effect that adds to the "thick" illusion. Needless to say, I would never stoop to even trying this on.


Like I said before, I just don't get it. How can the same designer who created the first look also create the second one? Why did they think it would be a good idea?

I guess I'll just have to remind myself that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and stick with that.