For Spring 2006 Giles Deacon unveiled a paradoxical collection at best. Juxtaposed against boxy heavily silk dresses were the eccentric designer’s sheer tulle ensembles, embellished with beaded embroideries. The collection’s strange mélange of conservative pieces and risqué costumey numbers suggested an inability, on Giles’ part, to determine who his target clientele is. For someone who aims to dress austere and dignified ladies with elegant clothes, this uninspired effort fell short of evoking a sophisticated quintessence.

Giles’ attempt to counterbalance his matronly creations with fancier constructions in the tradition of Madame Grès was an ill-fated venture. He simply was not able to rework the legendary couturier’s liquid effect on the drapery that transformed fashionable women into living statues of Greek goddesses.

For fall 2006 London based Deacon needs to rethink his approach, that is if he wants to come up with a more focused and better executed collection.

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