Paint it BLACK!

The Fall/Winter 2010 collection's inspiration without having it shown against the backdrop of ink-splatter pattern carpeting and a fellow (up-and-coming Berlin-based singer/songwriter Ben Hamilton) perched on a bar stool in the corner crooning a soulful 9 1/2-minute version of the Rolling Stones song "Paint It Black."

There were black-overdyed dress shirts that looked as if they'd been painted to within a few inches of the collar, black trompe l'oiel glitter splatters on pant legs and models who took to the catwalk in thick black eyeglass frames and black paint streaked across their faces.

But more importantly, the palette, which only strayed from the black and gray color story on a scarf here and a dress shirt there (midnight blue, naturally), helped showcase the collection's focus on layering and texture. There was a sleeveless ribbed knit sweater with a monochromatic checked silk pocket square stuffed in the breast pocket, a shiny, black quilted puffer vest under a black leather three-quarter-length coat, and multiple collars on tuxedos, shirts and sweaters that varied in fabrication but were of the same color -- black.

The designers denied that the melancholia of the collection was inspired by anything in particular.
"The color black has always been part of what we do," Snoeren said, pointing out the black V&R wax seal logo.
"And, to us, black has always been the color of cool."



"Paint it black" - Rolling stones
I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

I see a line of cars and they're all painted black
With flowers and my love both never to come back
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a new born baby it just happens ev'ry day

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it has been painted black
Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facin' up when your whole world is black

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you

If I look hard enough into the settin' sun
My love will laugh with me before the mornin' comes

I see a red door and I want it painted into black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

Hmm, hmm, hmm,...

I wanna see it painted, painted black
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
Yeah!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2010/01/viktor-rolf-monsieur-fallwinter-2010-mens-collection-runway-debut-paris-fashion-week-.html
http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/2010/fall/main/europe/menrunway/viktorandrolf/#