Contemporary fashion adheres to very few traditional rules and promotes loose definitions of daywear and eveningwear. Although true day suits, cocktail dresses, and evening gowns still exist, there are many permutations of these and other styles that cannot be easily defined—due in part to the unorthodox juxtaposition of materials often used in a single garment. For his fall 2008 collection for Calvin Klein, Francisco Costa designed an austere black wool ensemble. Although the skirt and blouse are appropriate for day, the coat is encrusted with crystal paillettes, an embellishment traditionally reserved for eveningwear. At first glance, the ornamentation merely seems to add texture, but in the light the coat twinkles like the evening sky, challenging our perception of what is appropriate for night and day.
