Parachute People

Not too long ago, I wrote a post about Norma Kamali's apartment from 1988.  Her most recent collection  (below) looked suspiciously (no wait— exactly) like her drapes, leading to some speculation that Kamali had pulled a Maria von Trapp and fabricated clothing from her Austrian blinds. 

Today, someone left a comment and set me straight:

HELLO PEOPLE!!!! THESE ARE NORMA'S FAMOUS PARACHUTE CLOTHES MADE FROM ACTUAL ARMY PARACHUTES.

HER SIMILAR PARACHUTE DESIGNS ARE ON DISPLAY AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART IN NY..

WWW.NORMAKAMALICOLLECTION.COM

WELL. In that case!  Dearest Norma, I am sorry for the confusion. Your models did not in fact teleport/time travel from the '88 apartment as I once believed, they actually PARACHUTED!!!

Coco Kamali

Is it just me, or does Norma Kamali's apartment in 1988 look an awful lot like her Spring/Summer 2010 collection of clothing? Sort of like the models teleported out of her ruched and ribboned residence,  c. 21 years ago?

Ribbons? Check. Ruching? Check (times 10). Gauzy fabrics? Black accents? Check and check. Strangely, I'm not really into the S/S2010 collection, but I SURE AM feeling it in the form of an apartment.  Recognize Coco Chanel's glass-top table in Kamali's living room, anyone? Kamali reproduced it as part of her furniture line in the 80s, along with her deep black velvet chairs and ottoman from the image below. (Anyone else feel the urge to reupholster things, ANYTHING, in black velvet? This looks so lush.)

Love the leopard and zebra here— they give the apartment TEETH.  And is that crystal bouquet another reference to Coco?

Norma Kamali's apartment, from House & Garden, December 1988.