A fortuitous chance meeting with designer Stella Jean at the start of Milan Fashion Week had me, just days later, sitting in her front row for the first time. After the show was over, the key thought that flashed in my mind was « why hadn’t I made a more concerted effort to see Jean’s work sooner? »
The show, accompanied by a live gospel choir singing an reworked version of “Gangsta’s Paradise” was a vibrant offering filled with eye-catching colorful patterns and prints. Its starting point was most apparent in the primitive mask and toy soldier embellishments used on jackets and skirts. But the idea did not dominate the lineup.
Jean’s aesthetic is very much in keeping with the current fashion trends in Milan. But her bold color mixes on outerwear and the graphic patterns used for pants and tops proved that she is a well-versed expert in this field.