Home Fashion Vanitas, Inshallah: A fantastical fashion adventure by AleXsandro Palombo 

Vanitas, Inshallah: A fantastical fashion adventure by AleXsandro Palombo 

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Inshallah.

This becomes abundantly clear in the designer’s provocative new book of illustrations, Vanitas, Inshallah- XI anni di onirico colore. The first book in Hazard Editions’ new series, “Chic et Simpliciter,” Vanitas, Inshallah, which translates to ‘Vanity, God Willing,’explores over 11 years of Palombo’s avant-garde designs.

The world’s first illustrated fashion show, Vanitas, Inshallah takes its reader on an enthralling journey through Palombo’s dreams, memories and sheer creative genius. We are exposed to the making of a garment, the star-studded front row of Palombo’s fashion show, the sacred back-stage antics and everything in between.

But this isn’t some fluffy fashion diary; there are no over-done odes to style icons or spendthrift socialites. Instead, Palombo continues on the controversial path that has made him an infamous fashion phenomenon. A cartoonish Anna Wintour, Carine Roitfeld, Barack Obama and other prominent public figures make notable cameos. The late Oriana Fallaci, an Italian political journalist, is ironically shown surrounded by an enthusiastic Islamic fan base (towards the end of her life, she made a point to express her avid distaste for Islam) and a group of Muslim women dressed in full robes peek out their scandalous garter-clad legs to do an undercover cancan.

But the book’s protagonist is not a famed fashionista or political radical; it is a tender clown called Vanitas who guides the reader through one hundred chicly surreal plates of illustrations. The designer told Scallywag that Vanitas was born deep inside his active imagination long ago:

“He has always lived with me. He’s sentimental and lives joyfully and passionately between dream, memory and reality. He loves travel, art, culture and fantasy. He’s like a big brother—better, more intelligent, humbler, braver and more generous…it struck me as right to make him known to everyone.”

A representation of an idealized dream, the impish yet infinitely wise clown presents the designer’s new creations while helping us to realize the dreams and sentiments behind Palombo’s full body of work. Not to mention, it’s quite apropos that a clown was the choice guide to lead us through the fashion world, which, clearly, is a circus in and of itself.

Hitting American bookshelves this April, Vanitas, Inshallah is a fantastical satire of fashion’s lesser-known absurdities. A beautiful expression of reflection and hope, it embodies Palombo’s perspective through playful whimsy and biting wit.

Vanitas’s hand is outstretched. So if you dare, set aside your preconceptions, let go of all your inhibitions and allow him to take you on the vivid adventure that spans the pages of Vanitas, Inshallah. You can be sure that we at Scallywag are already on our way.

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Obama.
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