'The Serpent Goddess' by Mada van Gaans

Fashion design

The mythical influences continue in Mada van Gaans' A/W 2010-11 collection where she draws inspiration from a delicate Cretan maiden, The Serpent Goddess.

By Savi Kuruppu /asdf 04-02-2010

While spring catwalks everywhere are awash with pretty girl pastels, Mada van Gaans bucks the trend by taking on a stronger, more indigenous colour palette.

For Mada's previous Spring/Summer 2010 collection, there was a strong connection to the dreamtime and the spirit world which continues this Autumn/Winter 2010-2011 season as she draws inspiration from the "Serpent Goddess" of Crete - a magical creature whose feminine elegance is undeniable. By carefully crafting her own mythical universe, Mada's serpent goddesses negotiate agrarian influences by perfectly balancing an unusual combination of sacred and sexy. Showing everything from sheer chiffon blouses to sharp python print 'le smoking suits', the collection quietly mimics the cycle of life.

Signifying humble beginnings, the opening number was a delightfully sheer silk dress, flowing freely from the waist and cut short at the thigh. Accessorised with towering shoes, one or two of the models discovered the perils of the spindle heel as they came on to the runway in haste. Successfully averting further mishaps, the show continued, delivering a series of coordinating colours, groundwork for matching blouses with modestly hemmed skirts and slim trousers. The most outstanding was an unusual almost antiquated moiré print of knot wood fabric, doubled up, it surely is a new way to seasonally recast the basic shirt-trouser combination. Ebbing away from the desert hues and agrarian influences, the designer's reptile obsession continues with killer python bolero and matching second-skin mini. Mada's well known cobra silhouette featured strongly as the models walked forward with hands firmly on hips, mimicking the defensive pose of a cobra. On turn, some of the dresses feature a fascinating drape detail that seemed to cowl in the back. Though they were buttoned up to neckline they were sexy as they were elegant. A homage to black concluded the show with a few seasonal updates to distinguish the look from the purely minimal look of past seasons.

This collection was every bit sophisticated, feminine and complete as Mada's previous collections. Her goddess worship and curiosity for ancient mythology married with a keen instinct of what 'feels right' maintains the authenticity that is Mada van Gaans.

Photography: Peter Stigter