Image via Wikipedia
By Contributing Editor Philippe Perisse de Montchenu, Fashion Reporter and Consultant
TIPS FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE
FOR CHRISTMAS, I was in a little and charming village near Bordeaux on le Bassin d’Arcachon called Ares. And while there is Area 51 in the USA, in Ares there has been an Ovniport (a UFO port) since 1976. Seriously!
A very imaginative administration decided to construct the most surprising airstrip ever designed. It is made for unidentified flying objects! An electrical technician of the village thought that if we couldn’t see UFOs, "it was simply because we hadn’t done much to welcome them." So they simply built it!
Today, it faces the shore, in front of the pier, and a stone is engraved with: "OVNIPORT ARES : August,15th 1976, this site has been reserved by a decision of the Mayor Christian Raymond, approved by the City Council to host on our planet Travelers of the Universe.. QUE VOS ATENDEM TOTJORN (we will always wait for you)."
Simply a joke? or a real leap of faith?
Proud of its unique site, the City Council ordered a local artist to deliver an actual flying saucer this spring--the first ever really to land in ARES’s OVNIPORT! And this summer, it proudly took place in a big celebration directed by the Mayor.
And as I was standing with my friend in this flying saucer (yes, it is me in the black and white picture!!), it hit me. Lets get a futuristic outfit for New Year’s Eve!
Since the 1950’s, deep space has been an amazing source of inspiration in Fashion. It is an occasion to review some very inspirational designers such as Pierre Cardin and Thierry Mugler--but most of all, Paco Rabanne who designed the costumes of the legendary movie Barbarella…which I have to confess it is my favorite movie ever!
And for an idea of New Year’s Eve party, check this out.
It was an amazing time of imagination and innovation driven by the walk on the moon, the fear of a nuclear war, and the strong beliefs in extraordinary tomorrows. And this thirst of wonder comes back with Thierry Mugler in the late 70’s. Later, he presented a collection very inspired by the silent, black and white expressionist movie Metropolis (produced in 1927 by the Austrian director Fritz Lang), one of the first sci-fi and politic-fiction movies ever made.
This makes me think of this crazy kitch movie that I've just recently discovered--The 10th Victim (Italian: La decima vittima)--an Italian science fiction film directed by Elio Petri in 1965 and based on Robert Sheckley's 1953 short story "Seventh Victim." It is a movie full of marvelous images, fantastic designs, and most of all lots and lots of beautiful and inspirational kitsch. The costumes are characteristic of the latest fashion of the 60's--a cross between Cardin and Courège.
costume designer Giulio Coltellacci.
I hope I have helped you choosing your outfit for New Years’s Eve. I’m sure you ll be fabulous in your “deepspacy-futuristic” look! Happy New Year, and all my best wishes!
And please, send me your New Year's Party photos! I’ll post the best looks in January!!
Send photos to [email protected]
Philippe Périssé de Montchenu lives in Paris where he works as a brand consultant and fashion reporter. Having experience as an assistant artistic director, supply chain manager, collection coordinator, and export manager, he is presently pursuing a post-graduate degree at the Institut Francais de la Mode.
