Miss Universe

The runways are awash with sci-fi influences this season and next. Keng Yang Shuen, self-proclaimed geek of the genre, wonders what this new frontier in space age fashion means for the times.

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By now, you’ve probably heard about the 35m-tall, hydraulic-fuelled, double “C”-flanked rocket that Chanel sent throttling up the dome of Paris’ Grand Palais for its F/W ’17 show in March. For those who didn’t, well, it stopped short of breaking through the glass roof. Nonetheless, it still made for one of the brand’s (and season’s) most spectacular finales, closing a soaring display that saw models circle down the runway in mod-style minis, glitter boots, metallic quilted wraps and Barbarellaesque blowouts to the tune of – what else – Rocket Man.

A week and a half before that, Italian mammoth Gucci staged its own cosmic parade for Fall/Winter: a trippy set that reimagined a mad scientist’s laboratory (mirrored pyramid centrepiece in tow) with models channelling the style of alien princes and princesses (cue bug-covered biker vests and shiny mesh gimp masks). And while you’re waiting for next season’s looks to drop in stores, why not stop by Coach, which pays tribute to American space missions with the Nasa logo and galaxy prints on tees and outerwear as part of its Pre-fall collection?

Fashion’s fascination with science fiction and its various sub-genres and imagery is far from new, but it’s hard to ignore how it now seems to be expanding and stepping up on its efforts to join the space race (however symbolically). Indeed, a look at the designers who have previously planted their flag in this futuristic realm would mostly compute as novelties, niche or one-of-a-kind iconic.