Zazie, your posts have been amazing throughout...
The atmosphere and the tribal tattoos were definitely used to detract from the repetitive nature of the works. If the Mulleavy's were pushing a look that wasn't as arresting as this collage aesthetic, people would have been fed up a long time ago. The fact that this aesthetic is so 'of the moment' but still very personal and sincere in terms of detail and rawness, means the Mulleavy's will get a pass for many seasons to come. I can literally hear the fear circling in their minds in regards to the idea of progressing. One wrong move can send all the 'right' people in the opposite direction. I feel that they've lost their desire to grow and mature as designers. In my mind, 'progressing' is not one in the same with stripping one of their identity and personal truths. It's more or less expanding upon a thought and giving it the strength to grow while still staying true to what is at the core - their passions and beliefs.
It is very hard to be subjective when an aesthetic appeals greatly to your own ideals of beauty, but it is necessary to do so in order to avoid banality and stagnation. Looking at other young talents like Helena Horstedt and Sandra Backlund, for instance, who like the Mulleavy sisters have very distinct aesthetics/ideals, but they still somehow manage to progress, refine, and build upon those very ideals. All while making them even more prolific and inspired than they were the first time around. And with less media-exposure, too.
Media-exposure is not a bad thing. It's great actually, but it must not dictate your actions or the course of the work. I feel that that is the case here but it is understandable in times like these.