Gibson Girl meets Edward Scissorhands. A blend of pompadour hair and leather clothing. These were the two images I had
in my mind while looking at the Alexander McQueen fall collection.
Just
like the Gibson Girl was a symbol of a new type of woman breaking free of
Victorian restrictions, Sarah Burton seemed to take this idea a step farther,
more of a Victorian girl gone bad. She has revealing necklines, sheer fabrics,
leather accents and racy cut-outs.
The
hair of the models mirrors the bouffant or pompadour style made famous by
Charles Gibson’s Gibson Girl drawings. The unruly nature of the styles seem to
pay a bit of homage to Edward Scissorhands’
unruly look. But unlike the Gibson Girl who still followed many of the rules,
Burton pushes the boundaries to an edgier take on feminine beauty.
More than 100 years have passed since the Gibson Girl took to the streets riding bicycles, showing athleticism and breaking boundaries, yet the power and beauty of this new Victorian woman continues to inspire.
Runway photos: Vogue.com
