Ganni returned to Paris to stage a homey presentation with set design by the photographer and furniture designer Ana Kraš. In the exhibition space alongside the mannequins she installed a bed, refrigerators with magnets to hold Polaroids of visitors, and a huge sofa that created a warped “Honey, I shrunk the kids” perspective that related to the proportion play at work in this spring collection that was peak Ganni.
Peak, in part, because it didn’t feel self conscious. As such it was reflective of Ditte Reffstrup’s state of mind. “I wanted so badly to stay a kid,” she said. “[Childhood] was a place where the creativity was just so pure. You would never, ever think what other people were thinking. It would just be you.” This collection worked a bit like Legos that don’t come with instructions. It was designed to be mixed and matched; drawstrings and cropped sleeves optimize customization. The pointiness of kitten-heels was mean to evoke “My, how big those shoes are,” memories of standing in Mom’s pumps as a child.
This was a collection for kids (see the valentine-colored denim set) and for adults who never want to grow up (a nifty, easy suit). There were sheer skirts to layer over printed ones, shrunken tops and sweaters, distressed jeans patched with a ditsy jacquard, and a lot of ruffles. Adding to the fun were the colors: gelato tones set off with Maraschino cherry red. Yum.
