Throughout the Paris shows, designers have shown tartans, African prints and nautical stripes, but Rei Kawakubo was the only one to pack all three themes into the same garment. That she did, in patchwork trousers and blazers with collages of colorful panels, pockets and silk neckwear appliqués. Skullcaps and ornamental strands dangling from hips, at times worn with dark suits and white shirts, seemed to reference Orthodox Jews. The garments were familiar, such as loose suits and mini kilts over trousers — only the embellishments were new.




