Paris Fashion Week...The Highs & Lows
Things were hotting up both on and off the Paris Fashion Week runway, as the frontrow fanned themselves against the Indian heatwave and sizzling spring/summer 2012 collections.
As some designers wowed with their impressive lines, there were of course other that disappointed.
Floaty silhouettes and plenty of slashed material were key to the runway for the s/s 2012 along with pastel shades and pencil skirts. Our lasting impression (aside from the heat wave and collapsing frontrow benches) will be the pretty sheer materials and the under-the-sea Chanel look. We can hardly wait for s/s already!
By far one of the most popular looks on the runway was created using light weight chiffon and lace. In shows such as Valentino this was never more so evident as the pieces looked as light as a feather and ultra feminine. Models sported the popular halo-plait braid hair trend from s/s 2011 to complete the simple, stylish look.
Chanel cooled off the runway with its utterly stunning, aqua inspired palette of irredescent dresses and dainty tutu skirts. If you're looking for the ultimate under-water mermaide look for next s/s then Karl Lagerfeld is most definitely the man to be watching if this runway show is anything to go by.
From savage to pure beauty, Alexander McQueen's collection was inspired by 'excess' and 'exploring beauty' according to Sarah Burton. Again the mermaid look became a feature for the show with a stunning silver hued, tail-like skirt dress capturing the audiences attention. And although we doubt that this would look suitable to be worn anywhere but a red carpet or a wonderfully lavish ball, we still wouldn't mind hanging a thing of such beauty in our wardrobe.
We shouldn't be surprised by now when we witness Phoebe Philo reinvent the classic line Celine with the effortless ease of hitting a refresh key. Her collection for Paris Fashion Week received excellent reviews combining a blend of retro and vintage shapes and silhouettes with metallics, bold colour and oversized buckles.
It would appear that power dressing is still high on the agenda with many designers taking to the traditional pencil skirt and three-piece suits to show off seductive and slim line silhouettes. Blacks and reds were popular colour choices which accentuated the presence the beautiful runway girls emenated.
Givenchy used the a/w gothic trend to its advantage for its collections as models took to the catwalk in pastels, creams and corals. They looked sexy while capturing the spirit of the ready-to-wear concept.
Despite all the media speculation about Marc Jacobs being in talks with Christian Dior and leaving his beloved Louis Vuitton, his presence at the catwalk show today painted the picture of a man that was more than happy to stay where he was. The collection, with its pretty catwalk carousel, consisted of pretty pastels and prints with petals adorned on sheer chiffon skirts. This is definitely one of our favourite collections and yes Marc, we're most defintely ready-to-wear them.
Disappointments of the week have to go to Isabel Marant and Kanye West. Marant's collection looks like a lot of pieces we'll be seeing on the highstreet next season instead of being the sophisticated show we're used to seeing. While prints are always a good fashion focal point, some of these outfits would look better placed on a Jackson Pollock canvas than on the runway.
As for Kanye West, there is nothing that we can write that hasn't been written before. He may be considered music genius, but it seems that fashion designing doesn't come so naturally to him. We'll give him another chance to 'grow' as he put it - it would be a waste not to see if he has true potential or whether it's all smoke and mirrors.
FemaleFirst Jenna Fordie twitter: @Jenna_FAM
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