Vintage Comme des Garcons Three-Tiered Black Skirt 1994

Detail: Unique  and ingeniously designed vintage Comme des Garcons three-tiered, two-layered black skirt from 1994. Constructed from two skirts of different lengths and joined at the waistband. 

Period: 1994

Condition: Excellent / Near Perfect

Sizing: Sized extra small. UK8. Waist 26". Hips upto 37". Length front 25" / back 34". 

Colour: Black

Fabric: Crepe, 100% Wool

Origin: Japan

Care: Dry Clean

Vintage Comme des Garcons Three-Tiered Black Skirt 1994

Daughter of a university lecturer, Rei Kawakubo studied fine art at Keio University, Tokyo, and then went on to work for the advertising department of a chemical company. Disillusioned, she progressed to styling - an unusual occupation at the time. Comme des Garçons was established in 1973; two years later Kawakubo showed in Tokyo, and opened her first shop a year after that. But it was not until she showed in Paris in 1981 that the full force of the Japanese influence filtered through. What the audience saw was a shock to the system: random ruching, irregular hems, asymmetric seams and crinkled surfaces. Vogue called it `oblique chic'.

Despite its unorthodox associations, Comme des Garçons has populist appeal: there are more than 300 outlets in 33 countries worldwide. Rei Kawakubo was the first to use `real' people as catwalk models, including Hollywood stars Dennis Hopper, Matt Dillon, John Malkovich and John Hurt. Wearer of austere expressions and giver of few interviews, Kawakubo said, in Rei Kawakubo and Comme des Garçons (1990), `What I do is concerned with the long term, and yet fashion is cyclical. It is a paradox, but it doesn't bother me. It's always exciting to do a new collection.'