Well this is it guys – the final dose of Paris Fashion Week action from the spring/summer 2013 season. We’ll try not to get emotional and have a blub-fest! Elie Saab, Miu Miu and Lie Sang Bong were given the task of making sure PFW ended in just as much style as it began in, and it’s safe to say that they accomplished their goal. Over at Elie Saab, jaws (we assume) dropped as the designer presented a wow-worthy collection which is sure to dominate the red carpet during Awards Season at the beginning of next year. The show was streamed live via the internet so we think we have the authority to say this: never has the phrase “floated down the runway” been more appropriate! In amongst the geometric, sparkly Oscars-appropriate dresses was a vast selection of daywear, which comprised of block colour matching suits, and a few summery frocks thrown in there to spice things up a bit. Although Miuccia Prada’s Miu Miu line is supposed to be for the younger, more contemporary fashionista, there were many grown up looks in the collection this season – far more than we’re perhaps used to at least. That’s not to say that there’s an overlap with Prada though – au contraire one of the many things we admire is the designer’s dedication to diversity. The collection was effortless, casual and a bit dark and edgy… worlds away from the last spring/summer outing that’s for sure. Another collection we thought was the perfect end to Fashion Month was that of Lie Sang Bong, as the designer presented a truly fantastical, mythical, multi-dimensional show. Butterfly prints and motifs were in abundance, as were fairytale-inspired almost nymph-like creations. A latecomer but one of our faves! What has been your stand-out collection from Paris […]

Bored of Paris Fashion Week yet? No? Good, us neither! The big guns were once again out in force yesterday, as the spring/summer 2013 collections from Alexander McQueen, Louis Vuitton, Valentino and Paco Rabanne proudly made their way down the catwalks. Sarah Burton’s vision for Alexander McQueen has once again rendered us somewhat speechless, carrying on the message of the late great designer beautifully. Another favourite collection from the whole of Fashion Month for sure – and not just because we are in awe of the beekeeper veils. We can totally see the likes of Daphne Guinness and Lady Gaga being all over this collection, can’t you? We wonder if the Duchess of Cambridge will find something she likes in here… watch this space! Marc Jacobs is a sucker for a theme and this season was definitely no exception; he went mad for stripes for the Marc Jacobs spring/summer 2013 collection which he debuted a few weeks ago, but it seems to be all about the 60s-inspired square print as far as Louis Vuitton is concerned. We didn’t think anything would beat his “all aboard the Louis Vuitton train” theme, but we have to admit that models coming down a moving escalator is an absolutely brilliant notion. What will he think of next?! Not ones to be outdone are Paco Rabanne and Valentino, who also had their turn on the runways of Paris. Paco Rabanne was sexy, sensual and provocative, and also had a hint of the 60s in it too. Although the scantily clad, overtly sexual part of the decade. We’re spotting a recurring trend here! Plus, if you have a supermodel body, it’s a pretty wearable collection too! Valentino’s outing was just as exquisite as we expected as the designer showed a plethora of fine, intricate pieces. As we all know, […]

Hakaan drama aside, Paris Fashion Week has continued to go on without a hitch, as gorgeous collections from Stella McCartney, Chloe, Givenchy and Chanel recently made their way down the runway. We even had Hedi Slimane’s debut collection for Saint Laurent Paris (formerly YSL) to look forward to. Paris Fashion Week isn’t Paris Fashion Week without a lavish Chanel show at the Grand Palais. We sometimes think there are only so many ways one can rework the iconic tweed jacket, but every season Karl Lagerfeld seems to find something new. Kaiser Karl has once again excelled, putting on a flawless collection that is the perfect mix of classic Chanel and modern, contemporary femininity. And as self-confessed bag addicts, we were particularly drawn to the pieces of arm and shoulder candy this season, especially the hula-hoop and leg-inspired bags. The oversized pearls also went down quite well with us – we do love statement bling! Elsewhere in Paris, the Chloe and Giambattista Valli shows took place, once again reiterating what we said about exaggerated silhouettes being key to the new season. Even though this isn’t a Couture collection, we kind of expected some big, bold and beautiful dresses to come out towards the end of the Giambattista Valli show (after all, they are the designer’s forte) but that didn’t happen this time round. Still, Giambattista’s exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail is still evident even in the simplest of pieces, which proves just why he gained that all-impotant Haute Couture appellation so early on. Well played! We’ve been waiting for Hedi Slimane’s Saint Laurent debut ever since he joined the fashion House, and although this isn’t what we were expecting, we were quite impressed with what he managed to cook up. Akin to a lot of collections at Paris Fashion Week, Hedi’s […]

It was a busy weekend for the Parisian fashionistas, as Vivienne Westwood, Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier and John Galliano were among the spring/summer 2013  collections which debuted on the French runways. We already saw Raf Simons present his debut collection for Christian Dior a few months ago during Couture Fashion Week, but we were still looking forward to seeing what direction he would take his first ready-to-wear line in. As a whole, it was contemporary and modern, but it was minimalistic. The subtle but very apparent hint of romanticism wasn’t lost in the new-season collection either, which just goes to show that Raf Simons has done his homework. We’re impressed! You can always expect a good gimmick from a Vivienne Westwood show, and the latest outing was no exception. The models essentially channelled Marie Antoinette with their hair and outfits, while some of them walked out with hearts on their faces – obviously the designer was keen to show and spread the love. Quite cute really! Jean Paul Gaultier collections are always a highlight, and once again the designer sought inspiration from famous faces. It was all about the late Amy Winehouse for the Couture show back in January, but this time round JPG paid tribute to more than one musical icon by presenting looks inspired by David Bowie, Boy George, Madonna and the legendary Michael Jackson. We imagine the catwalk show in itself would have been quite spectacular and the atmosphere somewhat electric. John Galliano was another hotly anticipated collection, as we were intrigued to find out what creative director Bill Gaytten was capable of doing now that he didn’t have Christian Dior to focus on as well. The collection definitely went in a different direction this season; gone was John Galliano’s love of theatrics, drama and all things attention-grabbing, […]

Time for the likes of Lanvin, Balmain, Rick Owens, Nina Ricci and Roland Mouret to have their turn on the Paris Fashion Week spring/summer 2013 catwalks now. Some designers stuck to what they know while others went for quite a big image overhaul. We think we’ve reached that stage where we can recognise a Balmain dress when we see one, and it looks like that’s still the case with this season too. Akin to those Herve Leger bandage dresses, the Balmain dress has become an instantly recognisable celeb wardrobe staple, and we actually look forward to seeing the slightly revamp on it season after season. It’s not a case of asking which celeb will be wearing the dresses but rather which ones won’t!; and we can totally see current-girl-crush Gwen Stefani in those harlequin print jumpsuits, can’t you? Nina Ricci gave us signature, classic romanticism with a bit of a gothic twist this season… and it looks like that good old Fifty Shades of Grey influence is apparent in yet another collection as out came the dominatrix-inspired bondage pieces! We always look forward to a Rick Owens collection, and this one was no different. Described by the designer himself as “a little bit hallucinogenic”, the spring/summer 2013 outing featured shiny, intense and almost godlike pieces, with lots of structure and definition to boot. Mad props to the hair department, too! And then there was Lanvin; Alber Elbaz went for a slight change in direction for this season, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. We just don’t think the man can put a foot wrong, as he presented yet another flawless collection comprised of loud, statement pieces with a relatively more subtle and refined angle than previous outings. We love the purple dress Karlie Kloss is rocking, but do we […]

Last but by no means least, Paris Fashion Week is finally here! The models have officially made their way from the catwalks of Milan to those of Paris to showcase some of the biggest spring/summer 2013 collections in the industry – all kicking off with the likes of Dries Van Noten, Rochas, Mugler, Gareth Pugh and Balenciaga. Nicola Formichetti didn’t disappoint us with his latest outing for Mugler, and we were actually pleasantly surprised by the slightly new direction he took with his latest collection. Silhouettes were slightly more relaxed (but the structure, complexity and definition was certainly not lost in the process) and the vibe was more feminine than that of past seasons. Marco Zanini’s collection for Rochas however didn’t go down as well as he had hoped, although we think the simpler, sixties inspired pieces will translate onto the high street quite nicely. Cara Delevingne’s red mini skirt in particular looks like it’s going to be a new-season must-have! Gareth Pugh’s collection was predictable with its sense of unpredictability, and we once again witnessed a monochrome colour palette with some bold, vampy red pieces thrown in there for good measure. What Gareth lacks in colour he certainly makes up for in material – there was plenty of leather that would make the job of the guys in wardrobe for True Blood really easy. Balenciaga definitely has to be our early favourite from Paris, and not just because a much happier looking Kristen Stewart was perched on the front row. We can envisage her in a large proportion of the outfits though – the boxy crop tops and mini skirts in particular. When you’re young and have a body like Kristen’s those styles are perfect to strut along the red carpet in. The black and pink dress to the […]