Comme des Garçons’ Fall/Winter 2006 collection explored the duality of identity, with Rei Kawakubo deconstructing the contrast between what is shown to the world and what is hidden. Masculine tailoring merged with feminine baroque elements, featuring slashed jackets revealing ornate fabrics, leg-of-mutton sleeves attached to argyle cardigans, and structured pantsuits fused with corsets. The theatrical presentation, enhanced by Venice carnival masks and operatic music, emphasized the performative nature of dressing. This season was a striking study of gender, historical fashion, and Kawakubo’s signature approach to reinterpreting past themes in dramatically new ways.
