Patti Smith + Ann Demeulemeester

Patti Smith has had countless creative partnerships over the course of her artistic career; the obvious Robert Mapplethorpe, Sam Wagstaff, John Cale, Fred “Sonic” Smith, but none quite like her long term friendship with Belgian designer Ann Demeulemeester. They have collaborated on 2 collections together, the first being Demeulemeester’s S/S 2000 collection titled “Woolgathering”, which takes it’s name from a short autobiographical novel published by Smith in 1992.

                          Demeulemeester took exerpts from Smith’s writings and embroidered them onto tulle overlay which she delicately draped over pieces inspired by Patti’s androgynous style. Demeulemeester added her own twist to Patti Smith’s most identifiable look which was notably photographed on the album cover for her debut record, “Horses”. Together the coupling proved to create an intriguing and fabulous collection which maintained both the designer and the poet’s aesthetics.

Their second collaborative effort was Ann’s menswear collection from the Fall 2006 season.

This collection filled with wide brim hats, alpaca fur gilets, amazingly tailored overcoats, and rust colored velvet blazers had the models putting on the role of stringy haired, Chelsea dwelling poets. Tim Blanks put it best when describing this as her “Pagan Glamor” collection.

The two pictured together photographed by Annie Leibovitz. Their creative explorations together have proven to be exquisite, and I certainly hope they bless us with another joint venture soon.