Unfortunately we’re not in Paris for Fashionweek at the moment, but it’s definitely our goal for next season. Meanwhile we check what’s going on from behind our little laptops. Hereby a short summary and our opinions on what we’ve seen until now…
Balanciaga’s domestic-space-adventure: Nicholas Ghesquière keeps surprising us with the strangest insipiration. Still moving forward with his ideas and the computerized generation, Ghesquière also took inpiration out of sleeping bags, food boxes, synthetic foam and biscuits. Especially the last ones turned out in cute, colourful biscuitwrap dresses. W magazine has an interesting take on the Balenciaga collection and shows some similarities with modern art. Although some designs could be found difficult in terms of wearability, Ghesqiuère is still pushing the boundaries of creativity Paris is so in need for. Juicy detail: the French Vogue was ‘blacklisted’ from Balenciaga this season. As it seems there were no ads in the magazine since October 2009. Damn…if the French Vogue gets blacklisted so easily, where will that leave us? Will we ever be able to attend a Balenciaga show in this lifetime???
Lanvin on the bridge between architecture and Africa: Alber Elbaz was born in Africa, and he’s taking on a new role as UNICEF ambassador. A thankful source of inspiration, sprinkled with an ooze of modernity and architectural shapes. The silhouettes are clean, yet bodyconcious, with shoulder-accents (either rounded or sharp-edged), and the use of draping- something Elbaz is good at- for daytime. The African accents were more visible in eveningwear; feathery embellishments, fur and African jewellery matched with metallics. Overall Lanvin showed a mixed collection that can be described as Minimal, meets Goth, meets Africa.
Giddy up-Giddy up! @ Dior: Put some 18th century influence, horseriding, and English countrystyle in a cocktailshaker, shake and stir it, and what you’ll get is a cocktail of leather redingotes, checks, jodhpurs, lovely knits, chiffon dresses, some lace and these famous 18th century long sheer Galliano-esque dresses. We like the leather dresses, the overknee ruffled socks, and lace shoes, but it’s not our favourite Dior show. We’ve seen equestrial before…
Laid back sweaters, ladylike and menswear for Dries van Noten: As working women we all want clothes where we feel comfortable in, yet we want it to be slightly different from the mass. Dries van Noten has a nose for these specific demands and easily mingles comfortable sweaters with forties cloque skirts. He also took trenchcoats and transformed them into printed dresses or skirts. The result is a dressed kind of nonchalance. We love sweaters on a lazy sunday, so thank you Dries for putting them back out there.