“Just clothing.” Although this phrase might seem obvious, at MM6 Maison Margiela, nothing is simply as it appears. The brand’s unique style is underpinned by a deliberate methodology and an unexpected twist for keen observers. This season’s collection notes defined it as “everyday dressing made strange.”
The MM6 studio thrives on reinventing wardrobe staples by deconstructing and reassembling them. They provided novel solutions to questions many might not have considered. Can removing sleeves make a shirt more stylish? Can a shirt consist solely of sleeves? The answer to both is affirmative. It seems six shirtsleeves are needed to craft a summer dress in white cotton poplin. What happens when you remove the stripe from tuxedo pants or the yoke from a denim shirt? You end up with something far from anything found in a typical dad’s wardrobe, but potentially appealing to a Devo fan, especially with aviators reshaped into a wraparound lens.
The collection was filled with these clever transformations, featuring earthy tones with splashes of red or pink, inviting close examination. A tailored blazer with a zipper in classic men’s suiting was designed to be worn with the lapel out or tucked in, offering versatility. Shirts, skirts, knits, and jackets with circular designs enhanced volume, while an offbeat lining took a chocolate pinstripe vest into a rock-inspired realm. Some outfits exhibited a striking dual personality, as if a cursor had been dragged across them, leaving a portion altered.
Accessories injected playfulness into the collection. An expanded jewelry line played with the idea of tangled chains. A signet ring transformed into a cuff bracelet or ear cuffs, sautoirs featured twin mini-mirrors, and a watch strap appeared without the watch itself. Nude nylon mesh adorned ballerina flats and the Japanese bag, likely appealing to brand enthusiasts. The Anatomic toe followed suit. Suede accents added texture to the Salomon cross derby and the east-west Bauletto bag. Meanwhile, the new Salomon XT-M4 provided a vibrant splash of orange and acid green.
