Bodies draped in a medley of leather and chrome barricade the entrance of 70 Wooster Street. Under the pockets of scaffolding, clusters of New York’s uber-stylish take refuge from the torrential downpour that has turned the city’s streets into a stream of unforgiving rapids. Flash-flood aside, most still dressed to the nines, flaunting their “Margiela Best” — the Tabi —an unspoken rule for any true style savant. The evening could be described as fashion’s very own enchantingly extravagant ball, except different to Cinderella and her dainty glass slipper, this soirée was a leather affair; the unofficial, official dress code of the evening. But that’s assumed when the Monster comes out to play with Margiela, again.
There’s a certain fervor in the air, the result of an ethereal convergence of avant-garde visions. Or simply put, the union of two cult-fashion powerhouses, the innovative Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster and the iconoclastic Maison Margiela—a match made by the fashion gods themselves. Honoring the momentous occasion with a helping hand from Highsnobiety, Gentle Monster kindly opened the doors of its SoHo flagship, beckoning the most "fashion-fiending" and discerning alike to step into a realm where reality and fantasy collide.
Inside, you’re teleported to 2087. Sheets of aluminum and reflective glass enshroud the wall, the unfinished cement floor adding to the motley of overbearing silver tones. There’s a flair of grandeur in the room’s simplicity that’s hard to ignore. Two robots greet you upon entry; one stereotypically mechanic, the other with terrifying human-likeness down to her clothes wearing what seems to be a very Margiela-esque painted denim set. In a somewhat stand-off, facing one another they mirror every movement with perfect synchronicity in a way that’s both mesmerizing and jarring. One could say this was the perfect metaphor for the marriage of the dynamic duo.
Despite the absence of sun, most shielded their eyes with a myriad of frames, indulging in the notorious sunglasses-at-night vibe. Attendees loitered by the bar, eager to get their hands on the evening’s specialty Clear Cocktail, a very on-brand concoction of citrus elixir and jasmine, with gin, tequila, or vodka. The whispers of electronic music emulating from the surround-sound speakers, spun by DJs Dylan Ali and Gonnie Garko formed the perfect soundscape for the exchange of small talk.
It’s no surprise, that Margiela’s signature white stitching owned the night; from the latest GM x MM offerings on display to button-downs and innumerable amounts of Tabi’s donned by attendees (trust me, we tried to count), even Mr. Margiela would shed a tear at the sight. Every detail, down to the collective of ambiguous animal-like sculptures that occupied the space, was curated with Gentle Monster’s well-attuned eye. Even the Hor D’oeurves with their pretentious after-taste; smoked sable and scallop tartare dressed the part, obeying the event's black-and-white color scheme.
Frames easily accessible from the steel display casing were exchanged around the room, as everyone searched for the style that fit just right. At this ball, there may not have been any gowns, but there was a decadent collection of Gentle Monster x Margiela eyewear, desperate to find their own Cinderella.
To the left, a girl adorned in the finest fashions with bleached eyebrows and jet-black hair reached for the leather-wrapped goggles, audibly gasping with glee at her reflection a mere 0.3 seconds later. “They’re just too fabulous,” a petite figure sporting an outrageously loud fur and bold red lip replied, handing her another pair to try. This style is edgier in nature, boasting a temple-less design, with a holographic lens and beak-like nose (Think: if Avatar and Batman had a baby). But when you have a room filled with Gotham’s most debonair, it’s no coincidence that each frame felt right at home on the designated wearer, and in some cases, it was arguably the missing piece to an already flawless outfit.
It may not happen often, but on the occasion when it does, and the Monster meets Margiela just know you’re in for a treat.
Now available online and at Gentle Monster boutiques, you too can join the mob of marvelously "margiela-ified" monsters. Click here if you dare.
