Scrunch, Ruche, and Drape It
The ancient Greeks had a reverent appreciation for the human body, and it showed in their fashion—fabric was expertly draped and secured with a fastener, often at the shoulder. Such drapes and folds became abundant and extravagantly dyed if you were noble, and required the assistance of servants just to get dressed. Fast forward thousands of years, and this ancient costume is still fashionable, yet with the convenience of cut and sewn garments. Take emerging designers Lucille Thievre and Luna del Pinal for example—they draw on ancient draping techniques that flatter the female form. Other designers play with scrunched or ruched folds through the use of a draw string or elastic band, such as cult brand J.Kim, or with specially treated fabric, as seen in Issey Miyake’s famous pleats. Shop the edit below.
