Striking Portraits from Palomo Spain Fall 2019
Photography by Mich Cardin
When creating a vision for Palomo Spain's next season, Gomez Palomo looked 103 years in the past. The Andalucían designer used Les Ballets Russes and early 20th-century rural Spain as inspirations to create a collection entitled 1916, which commemorates when the two came together as the revolutionary ballet company sought refuge from World War I. This moment allowed for Spanish culture to leave its mark on the Russian dancers through works like El Sombrero de Tres Picos and Cuadro Flamenco as well as plenty of sartorial influences.
The collection built on Palomo's current interest in "purification," modernizing the brand's penchant for historical references and going for a color palette that highlights grey, black, and white alongside brighter tones of scarlet, navy, and emerald. The Spanish spot was also a major theme, coming in all sorts of reimaginations including the house's first print, which deconstructs the polka dot. Accessories, including wide-brimmed hats and the most fun pointed-toe heels, were obvious references to the theatrical magic of Les Ballets Russes, which challenged the gender binary in ballet and allowed male dancers to enjoy being a bit more frivolous. Mich Cardin captured the showstopping ensembles, creating visual moments that truly capture the feeling of being backstage at the ballet. See it for yourself in the gallery below.
