„Stupid Cupid you’re a real mean guy.
I’d like to clip your wings so you can’t fly.
I’m in love and it’s a crying shame.
And I know that you’re the one to blame.”
‘Stupid Cupid’, Connie Francis, 1958
Danny Reinke‘s Spring Summer 2025 collection titled “Stupid Cupid” can be understood as an homage to the emotional confusions of unrequited love. This Prêt-à-Couture line that contains both men- and womenwear pieces sends the audience on an emotional rollercoaster. First of all we noticed the romantic approach of these graceful pieces. When we had a closer look at them, we spotted some influences that radiate pain, like you feel it when your heart is broken.
For this line, the designer took his inspiration from a composition that was written by Howard Greenfield and Neil Sedaka for singer Connie Francis in the late 1950s. In this song, the musician sings about Cupid, the Roman God of Love. He lets the musician fall in love and therefore makes her unhappy. In this emotional song, the singer tries to free herself from her hopeless love and Cupid’s influence and blames him for her situation. However her emotions are not only negative, they send her on a rollercoaster from delight to anger. When she complains about her situation, she sings ‘Hey, hey, set me free! Stupid Cupid, stop pickin’ on me!‘ Therefore she hopes to get rid of some emotions that are still haunting her. Even though she struggles with her feelings, she still sings this pop song in a blithe way.
When you observe the colour palette of this line clearly, you will recognize red tones in various nuances play a central role. Combined with grey, black, white and lime this colour arrangement which is rich of contrast literally shines, especially when it is paired with heavy materials. The first, sheer white looks of this fashion show radiate innocence, positivity and hope. A romantic bridal dress with graceful flower applications is the first look and has a very romantic vibe. In some other looks, sparkling details give hope for a bright and joyous future together. However this positive overall impression quickly changes into grey and a bunch of other nuances until several looks that are kept in black express a rather dark mood. With this multifaceted colour choice, a true rollercoaster of feelings is demonstrated.
Several other key elements of this set are corsets which should reveal the emptiness of the feeling of lovesickness. In addition to the collections’ title, several other references to the 1950s can be noticed as well. Bow-tie blouses, pencil skirts and voluminous petticoats made of tulle team up with tuxedo shirts. This unusual combination depicts a modern dandy look. Several other menswear essentials, such as suspenders, sock suspenders and blazers round off this individual overal impression. In addition to that, elaborate draperies remind us of influences from the Greco-Roman antiquity. Moreover three-dimensional flower structures in striking red give some looks a rather unique approach. Cut outs, asymmetric cuts and elaborate details make these looks so interesting to observe.
Worth of mentioning is the fact every garment and detail is made by Hand in Danny Reinke’s atelier in Berlin. This fashion show was part of the WE.4.Fashion Day, a collaboration between the four designers Marcel Ostertag, Rebekka Ruétz, Kilian Kerner and Danny Reinke. Next to the invited guests, as certain amount of tickets was sold for a good cause. This season, the profit was donated to Children for Tomorrow and the Tierschutzverein Berlin (TVB).
“Supid Cupid” is a graceful Prêt-à-Couture line which sends the audience on an emotional rollercoaster. Both the colour arrangement which is rich of contrasts contribute to a multifarious overall impression, but also the very special detail-awareness of this unique collection.
Images: Sebastian Reuter Getty Images for Danny Reinke
Review by Sussan Zeck for DSCENE Magazine
