The program notes cited pop artist Roy Lichtenstein as inspiration for the comic-strip print that appeared first as the lining of a jacket hood, then as part of a bright blue patchworked sheath, and eventually on coats edged in fur. In fact, a cartoonish undercurrent—something very much on the minds of showgoers after this morning s press conference for the Costume Institute s Superheroes exhibit—suffused the entire Iceberg collection. First there were the outsize, even outlandish proportions: tailored coats came with bulging, down-filled quilted sleeves; a puffer jacket was reimagined as a skirtsuit, its eccentric volume still intact. The theme then extended to embellishments: In the bodices of colorful, leopard-print silk chiffon gowns lurked abstract face masks. One model wore a black hood complete with feline ears à la Catwoman.
In the mix were some more approachable and seasonally on-message sweater dresses. That was a good thing. Much as we d all like to be able to leap across buildings in a single bound—and do it in stilettos, why not?—it s not clear how many of these pieces will fit into a real-life wardrobe.
