Clara Daguin rolled the dice with her latest collection, taking a risky — and a little risqué — gamble on a Vegas theme.
Staying true to her signature focus on working with light, the designer this time pushed boundaries with unapologetic kitsch and camp. She abandoned restraint and went all-in with the sheer outrageousness of it all.
“I needed to have fun, literally. I wanted something that wasn’t political or negative, just an escape,” she said.
It marked a departure from the techno-esoteric designs of her previous collections. Instead she drew inspiration from Las Vegas’ reputation as the “brightest place on Earth you can see from space” and focused on playful, theatrical pieces.
Cue roulette wheel bra tops, neon sign dresses, and pasties.
A one-legged black velvet jumpsuit evoked the stylized “Showgirls” poster, which rendered Elizabeth Berkley’s leg as a sexy, S-shaped curve, while another echoed a white feathered coat reminiscent of Gina Gershon’s character, updated 30 years on with the added glow of fiber optics.
The “Lucky 7” was a recurring motif throughout, appearing on dresses, shirts, and a pair of Barbie-pink pants. Chaps, cowboy boots, and stripper heels? Check, check, and check. There was even a pole dancer.
A standout was a denim suit with flames rendered in layered embroidery and lit from beneath with LEDs, using techniques she developed for the Olympic Games opening ceremony, when she designed looks for Juliette Armanet’s performance.
Since then, Daguin has focused on commissioned projects, custom pieces, and costume work, which is where this collection lands.
It was a gamble that paid off, if judging by the crowd’s enthusiasm at least. Cute CD-branded caps, cards, and keychains will likely hold commercial potential.