story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Adrianna Favero
Tadashi Shoji’s Spring 2012 bridal collection once again confirms that the veteran designer’s calling card is his balanced touch with embroidery and other potentially garish or voluminous design elements. In short, the man knows when to stop and precisely what to do to create a compelling gown.
There is always an organic or naturally inspired feel to Mr. Shoji’s creations even when they don’t specifically display natural elements. It is easy to get the sense from a dress when it is enhanced with flower petals, but he generates it even when the creation lacks specific references from the natural world. It as if Tadashi Shoji grows his garments in a beautiful garden somewhere rather than stitching them together.
The other design technique that often elevates Mr. Shoji’s work above many more mundane designers is his choice of shapes. He very often creates a radical new feeling from a traditional style, simply removing a bit here and there. Tadashi Shoji has a different vision for his work. It is not a radical reworking, but rather a subtle take on slight changes that create major impacts. He has a light hand that creates powerful work.
