The sexy wig, the key accessory of the Maison Margiela fashion show

That evening, Thursday January 25, there was a full moon. The first of the year. John Galliano made history with his Maison Margiela haute couture show that closed four days of shows in Paris. In the end, the guests placed under the Alexander III bridge in Paris were upset. In addition to loud clapping, some were crying, others were stamping their feet so hard that the wooden floor shook. What did they see that caused such (and so rare) excitement at a fashion show? Male and female silhouettes in a porcelain shade, almost larger than life, reminiscent of the well-done makeup of the Victorian years. Most of the models were covered in corsets, reflecting the aesthetic of the courtesans of Toulouse Lautrec.

In this theatrical momentum, aided by the intimate staging and the models’ strange and tasteless gait, the women’s breasts were shown to be full, generously exposed under sheer veils. The same goes for their scaly hair, which many have discovered with surprise and some curiosity.

Merkin’s return

It is clear that women’s hair is valued here, becoming a virtue of seduction, going against the current standards of beauty. And sticking to the practices of the Belle Époque, where abundant pubic hair was considered healthy and desirable (at a time when shaving was more reminiscent of lice and syphilis). Women who show off their bodies (actresses, dancers or even prostitutes) often use it. But some also wear the Merkin, a type of pubic hairpiece often made of their own hair, to hide this misfortune. The first versions of this “underwear” date back to ancient times and were made of animal hair. And how about these chunky and rough puffs slightly covered in tulle or lace at the Maison Margiela fashion show? More real than nature. To give that authentic impression, these Merkins are actually made from real sable hair and hand embroidered. High fashion, in a word.