Paris. I look back with so many fond memories. No matter how small or how big, the city inspires. I had a cafe at a bar in Galeries Lafayette overlooking the make up area. Pure Joy!
Tag: Paris
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Feeling Like A Princess
Do women still want to wear wedding dresses? Is this too traditional for the 21stcentury? After the past few young royal events, everyone wants to feel like a princess.
The centerpiece of Ziad Nakad’s couture collection is the wedding dress fit for a 18th century noble bride.
I am not going to ignore the rest of the Lebanese designers lush looks made up of embroidery, pastel colors, and stones. This is a man who loves women at their most glamourous.
All images from info@maxtree.com
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Paris Fashion Week Couture Highlights
Just a Quick Rundown
Haute Couture is for a few but inspiration for all. This is the week when fashion houses unleash pageantry at its most 17thcentury finest. Sheer splendor in the air meticulous designs, some taking hundreds of man and woman hours to produce. Shapes and colors in all structures combined for display on the catwalk, then on display for a few buyers, celebrities, and press.
Valentino’s head Piccioli is now the head of the optimistic club judging by this colorful collection. So Vivid!Not just colors, but shapes, lace, frills, ruffles, and extravagance of it all. Super model Naomi Campbell closed the show in a black sheer top.
What Armani does it is for Armani woman. Prive designs are about getting noticed but not in a noticeable way. The looks seemed inspired from a 30’s films. Suits, jackets, and dress fitted for the body from head to toe. The Woman in Red, look #34, has Joan Crawford written all over it, a jacket with a calf link dress stops the room.
Olivier Rousteing brought Balmain back the Couture zone. He took his moment, white, and soft pastel colors, but the shapes. The models donned looks small orbs on the wrist, and giant ones on the shoulders. Look #24, short, with the big fan and bow is a knockout.
A fashion show as a circus setting, Maria Chiura commands couture by making her looks themed around a most elegant clown. All the world loves a circus. I liked the 68 pieces presented. Look #4, sheer black stripped with collar, red sheet mini skirt is precious.
Jean Paul Gaultier presented 63 looks. The verdict, still on the edge but not fighting for the rest of us to catch up. The classic breton stripes, fringes, pointy shoulders from a Flash Gordon film could inflict harm but on a runway model proved visually dramatic. The soft baby blue, #56, halter top, mini ruffles with train peaked my interest.
Chanel’s homage to lush and wealth of past stood front and center. Lagerfeld focused on rigid forms and strong shoulders for the 62 look show at the Grand Palais. The embroided strapless of look #54 is a keeper.
Galliano at Maison Margiela destroys, interprets only to reconstruct. The two piece black look. #32, leather pants and cropped sleeveless bolero jacket is for the nightlife.
Guo Pei turns couture collections into Asian fairytales. Skirts, thigh high boots, silks, and floral patterns for the Femme Fatal of the Orient. The silver silk , #5, or organza dress with head piece is precious.
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Paris Fashion Week Couture Roundup
Alin Le Kal’s decade of experience with textiles along with his education at RMIT University, Melbourne proved invaluable. He developed a skill using fabrics. His feminine looks, using intricate crystals and feathers for his Spring Couture collection titled “Reflected Elements” showcased his love for the female form. The runway show set in the ball room of the Le Grand Hotel, Paris, proved fitting, a perfect place for grand entrances. The Peach feathered dress is Breathtaking.
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Paris Fashion Week Couture Tom Verlaine
Stay tuned for complete coverage of the Tom Verlaine Couture show from Paris.
I am not familiar with Ali Le Kal. Stay tuned for more coverage.
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La Metamorphose in Paris
Brice Hardelin, Black and Paper’s creative colleague in Paris, covered our first Couture Show. We could not be more thrilled. Getting an invitation to such a prestigious event at the Le Grand Hotel Opera feels like a dream come true.
A BIG THANK YOU to Mephistophelesproductions in Pairs.
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Highlights-Paris Fashion Week Men
Paris Fashion Week Men 2019 is all about the being a more low key this season. As I go over the collections, I notice the frivolity is out. In it is place is what men will or can wear. Accessories are also making a strong statement this season.
My Likes
For the very few who can afford to buy Hermes Menswear this collection would be well worth the price. Veronique Nichanian’s outer wear pieces were the highlights. Leather pants and suits made for a the man driving an expensive car on the Rivera. I would have to sell a kidney to afford the hoodie jacket in look #34.
Rochas has made a welcomed return to menswear with Frederio Curradi at the helm. He decided no to go over the top but in a subtle direction, with an Earthy color palette. the looks reminded one romantic continental artist complete with beret. My favorite is look #5. If you had an intellectual lover, you would want him to dress like this.
Tom Browne is one of those mad genius creative types, but not tortured. I expected different and he did not disappoint. Elongated stripes and gray looks at times felt like costumes from a 20’s decadent play. Look #18, solid pants, checkerboard blue and white coat and jacket, and sweater gave me energy.
White Mountaineering offered layers, then more layers, All was about statements, one piece or all together. The collection lived up to the mountain name, oversized protection from the elements. I did not have a favorite look because I cannot imagine myself wearing one.
Loewe entered the runway fray with its first show. At times the collection felt more conceptual than wearable but Jonathan Anderson pulled some looks and pieces out of the hat. The wide pants loose shirts, extra reach sleeves were front and center. Look #43 carried the day in my opinion. I would wear each piece as a whole or separate.
Kris Van Assche’s debut at Berluti proved to be the right shot in the arm for the brand. The opening look, a head turning brown leather suit, said, “Menswear look out”. If wear this suit one time, once would be enough.
The collection from Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton proved he is going in the right direction, more focused, fun. LVMH showed brilliance in hiring him. The flay pants were front and center of collection that moved from gray, black to print tops. Look #41, a streetwear look made up of pleated pants with white print shirt is an eye catcher.
Balmain showed 98 looks. Where to start? Olivier Rousteing had a lot to say this season. Black was the basis of the collection. Thrown in were leather, knitwear’s, and denim, all for the club life. Look #19, a black sweater with white breton stripes along with black pants would be my Friday night outfit.
I liked the Dries Van Noten collection.”Wearable” is the term that I can apply with pride. A narrow color palette enhanced the menswear line influenced by music, tailored with emphasis on the waist. Pants came in on the flare and slim side but the tops stood out.
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Menswear from PFWM
France 24 reports from Paris Fashion Week Men.
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Jean Paul Gaultier
France 24 gets a look at maverick fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier’s new show from Paris. Below is the video, check it out!