Comme des Garcons (CDG) and Walter Van Beirendock; both controversial designers; however, both received very differently by their audience. Beirendocks work is widely regarded as 'conceptual' and 'fashion as art'. Although very controversial (particularly for menswear), even quite alarming at times (phallus shapes and hairy chest prints galore), it is more understood.
These days Comme Des Garcons are a very desirable brand, but their earlier collections shocked, provoked and (eventually) changed peoples opinions on taste. They blurred the boundaries between masculinity and femininity, they stuck two fingers up at the expectation for women to dress 'sexily' and believed fashion was a way of communicating, not just to look 'hot'. For them, the words independent, individual and intelligent are like sex. They make clothes for women of this description.
'Comme Des Garcons are sort of like a fucked up version of Chanel' (not sure who said this, but I liked it!)
Their collection in 1987, which consisted entirely of black, was a big controversy for the 80's, when anything remotely classy was shunned in favour of 'tack' and their 'lumps and bumps' collection in 1997 with silhouettes being distorted beyond recognition underneath plaid dresses provoked adverse reactions from the audience. Their fall 08 collection, however, despite being designed with bad taste in mind, was regarded by the press as good taste (bad taste worn in an ironic way - perhaps that's what people in the 80's had in mind?) As CDG's reputation built up (along with other designers, of course) , peoples opinions have changed - not just of their fashion but of women's fashion in general.
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