Y's Fall 2019 RTW – Paris Fashion Week

(Images from Vogue.com and wwd.com. The public domain. Used in promotion of the designer.)

Y's, may seem like an an offshoot of Yohji Yamamoto's mastery as it is predominantly suited for Ready-to-Wear collections that in most cases is represented as showroom pieces for female collections.  But Y's, in comparison to Yamamoto's own signature label was actually his first idea as a commercial fashion enterprise and marketable brand, which was created in 1972.  It then became the stalwart representation for Yamamoto's ideas, before he rejuvenated the brand using the signature label as the forward mainstay for his collections. That being the current 'Yohji Yamamoto' collections.  He as since allowed newer Japanese designers and interns to have input towards Y's RTW seasonal showings; of course, all under the auspiciousness of Yamamoto himself. 

Y's has somewhat a demoted aspect to the other Yamamoto's market presence, probably also sitting under the Y-3 statue, which is Yamamoto's 15yr collaborative relationship with Adidas.  This could have been in regards to the company restructuring after the signature brands almost faced bankruptcy in 2009.  Regardless, Y's still reflects past romanticism from the early years of Yamamoto's appeal in creating exclusive feminine styles. Draped and seductive stylization, wrapped in mystique, that has also been Yamamoto's take on designer clothes for women since the beginning of his career. The accentuation of the female form, the paradox and duality of narcissism has been his focus when overseeing Y's collections. Which can been seen in the darkness and solemn arrays, yet, unbridled passion that resides underneath.

For Y's Fall 2019 collection, it definitely holds true to the infusion the layering techniques that past collections are famous for, crossing over from stark indoor studio settings to the the light of outdoors, as the clothes on display shift through dual aspects. Despite the collections demure, it also feels brazen - maintaining a sexy, tough and resilient array.