Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Chloe
Paris Fashion Week Round Up, fashion shows
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Chloe
A brand that has had more Creative Directors than the models have had hot dinners, ex Pringle head of design sent her first collection down the runway to the waiting baited breath of the international fashion press. Chloe isn’t famous for anyone thing in particular - there’s no trench a la Burberry or Louis Vuitton monogram - but this show was strong. Laundered, crisp whites were highlighted with pops of green and coral while shapes were left floaty and laid back. This is exactly what you would want to wear while stepping onto your yacht in St Tropez. For the rest of us we’ll perhaps have to settle for the high street versions.
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Louis Vuitton
Paris Fashion Week Round Up, fashion shows
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Louis Vuitton
I’m potentially about to spit on the fashion altar....I didn’t love this show - there I said it. The overall attitude for AW11 (remember Ms Moss smoking a cigarette on the runway....gasp!), the structural silhouettes and enormous production rightly separated this brand from the many wannabes on the fashion week schedules. Floral macramé steadily streamed down the runway which got a little repetitive and there was Ms Moss closing the show....again. All in all, the show was wispy, girly and cute but not going to break any major ground. Rumoured to be leaving Louis Vuitton as Creative Director to replace the infamous John Galliano at Dior, this could be Marc Jacobs last season for the brand, and dare I say it, it may not be a bad thing to get some fresh blood in there – who’s blood we don’t know yet but Phoebe Philo from Celine has the best odds.
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Alexander McQueen
Paris Fashion Week Round Up, fashion shows
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Alexander McQueen
Unless you have been living under a rock this year you will have heard of Royal wedding dress designer Sarah Burton. After shooting to household name fame, Sarah - who took over the reins from the late Alexander McQueen – had the unenviable job of living up to a massive hype this season. Tight roping the fine line between not losing the brand’s identity, yet trying to move it on – Sarah did a brilliant job. McQueen has always been known for injecting an air of Haute Couture ‘wistfully odd’ into the collections while keeping it elegant enough to grace red carpets and yet still be wearable – not an easy recipe to get right. The odd and unwearable (if you’re not Daphne Guinness or Lady Ga Ga) was the gauze mask that covered many of the girl’s faces, the rest, albeit a little ‘out there’ was pretty much a wearable cocktail dress collection – ok, you’d have to be going to a fairly fabulous cocktail reception but still. It had colour, gorgeous silhouettes, beautiful intricate detailing and a large helping of attitude. This was Company’s show of the week by a mile!
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Miu Miu
Paris Fashion Week Round Up, fashion shows
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Miu Miu
It’s fairly widely known that Miu Miu’s aesthetic (and price) is becoming too much like that of its mother brand Prada. The outset of Miu Miu’s show confirmed just that, basically, it was a little too grown up and stern in colour palette. That said half way through, the strictness broke and things got a bit more fun. Patchwork prints and polka dots spruced up the A-line skirts and dresses (THE silhouette of SS12) and boat neck, pussy bow jackets and coats (also A-line obviously) were shrugged over shoulders to give some shelter from any early spring chill. After a disappointing start, the brand finished on a very Miu Miu high.
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Chanel
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Chanel
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Chanel
Whilst many shows concentrate on a nautical sailor-esque theme for summer, Karl Lagerfeld took us on a voyage through a Little Mermaid fantasy world. The clothes were made up of iridescent sequins, translucent chiffon, pearl detailing and silver lame which shimmered and slithered past us while twinkling like a ray of light on the ocean. The overall palette was kept nude with coral, shell and aqua making up the majority of the collection. Many pieces were decorated with air-light ostrich feathers which danced with the models like an urchin wavers with the tide. THE accessory of the season was showcased here – pearl encrusted sea shell clutches. We WANT!
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Stella McCartney
Paris Fashion Week Round Up, fashion shows
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney - perhaps better known for her family and friends than her design innovation - stepped obediently into line for SS12. Many designers can find summer collections difficult because of the trusty AW layering and fabrics that the heat can rule out. This said, Stella McCartney has perfected the summer season, perhaps due to her unwillingness to use skins. You can always rely on Stella to send out look after look of nonchalant elegance and this season was no exception. Tailoring was kept relaxed and simple shift dresses added to the easy chic vibe while pops of turquoise and coral lifted the grey, white and lilac base palette, giving the overall collection a more sporty feel than we’re used to. Unexpected microprint (inspired by men’s classic ties) burst onto the scene towards the end; think granddad’s pyjamas but beautifully tailored into an A-symmetric mini dress – LOVE!
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Yves Saint Laurent
Paris Fashion Week Round Up, fashion shows
Paris Fashion Week Round Up: Yves Saint Laurent
In stark contrast to the tsunami of whites and pastels, YSL showed a collection that was perhaps a little more autumn than spring. Rather than Emerald green and turquoise seen at many shows; YSL went with olive, royal blue and Quality Street purple. Perhaps playing a little recession-safe, tailoring was sharp, dresses were slick and coats were oversized, something that YSL has down to a T. YSL is always glamorous, expensive looking, polished and will always be on our wish list, but what was new? What separated this from any other season? The answer is, not very much.
