Valentino was definitely one of the most beautiful collections of the season. With the SS14’s tribal influence, Valentino took us to South America, where Aztecs and Mayas decorated their temples in opulent and splendour way. The craftsmanship of the collection is impressive- all the couture embroideries on dresses looked like if were made by one of the local Mexican women, dying and threading each flower and shape into silk. There were also some inspirations with Latin explorer-chic- suede capes with frenzies, sandals, jewellery with zodiac amazing use of denim with Guatemalan skirts and tops. However, there was something about sexy 70’s of Hollywood and Byzantine luxury hidden in the looks- crowns, rich colours, sensual lace, ribboned shirts… Valentino not only took as into the beautiful journey to South America and it’s secrets, but also made it in surrounded with European qualities and chic!
Paris Fashion Week
Gallery. Chanel SS14
The Chanel SS14 was a big surprise for everyone. Maybe not from the clothing side (tweeds, bags and jackets are as always in the collection) but from the venue selection. Well… The Chanel collection happened in Grand Palais, but in a pretty original setting. It was a modern art gallery. The catwalk was in the middle, and on the sides were artistic installations and oaintings, all designed of course by master of Paris fashion- Karl Lagerfeld. There was a naked man, a double C sculpture made of No5 perfume bottles and even a trash bin full of. Chanel bag chains… In other words, only CHANEL. And the collection was simply amazingly, kawaii-cute, super cool. It felt Karl was still into the Shanghai topic like on his Resort collection, but in a more tweeted and Coco accentuated way. The collection was all about female artists and one colour- pink. Pink, pink, pink. This cute colour was like everywhere- on dresses, on jackets, on bags! Plus there was this paint-brush print on last looks- maybe it’s kind of trivial, but not for Lagerfeld. Theme of this Summer collection was moving the sense of fashion and art, about how they meet and full fill each other. In the Chanel edition, every piece of art is amazing (while most of it… Is fashion!).
Rock ‘n Chic. Saint Laurent SS14
That was the third Saint Laurent fashion show under the wings of Hedi Slimane, and it was… the best! I am still blown up after this collection that was presented in Grand Palais in Paris yesterday. On the entry, there was a big, LED lights installation that reminded of some abstract piece of art. And then the show begun of course with… Edie Campbell, with gloomy hairstyle and eye make-up. She wore a beautiful V-neck dress in black colour. Sexy and chic. Then the classical Yves Saint Laurent Le Smoking shown in a much more casual way. The collection wasn’t punk itself- it was very chic and elegant, but had a rock ‘n roll twist too. Stripes t-shirts, sequined jackets, sharp hair-cuts, over-large sleeves and lips/fire print on few mini dresses. Hedi definitely got mad with all these grunge boots from Winter, but certainly he did fell in love with socks under stilettos… I think this is one of the coolest trend, while most people are totally on NO when they see this. But in the Saint Laurent edition, it simply looked great. The SS14 collection by Saint laurent was definitely one of my favourite this season!
ALAÏA The Exhibition
The Palais Galliera is honouring the French fashion icon, Azzedine Alaia, with a huge exhibition. This is the first Paris retrospective, and is viewed in the Matisse Room, were the dresses, jackets and skirts are showed. In the gallery, that was renovated by City of Paris, now we can see biggest hits of the body-dressing master, that is till now celebrated and loved my Naomi Campbell and Stephanie Seymour. “I make clothes, women make fashion”.
New Alaia Store Opening
The long-waited store of Alaia have just opened close to the Avenue Montaigne in Paris. And this is a great occasion because within the day of the opening, Mr. Azzedine Alaia had his amazing exhibition too presented in the Palais Galliera on the same day. The master of perfect dresses that show the sexiest parts of women body, has a really winning year… Now wonder why- he is a real fashion icon, and it’s not a surprise that the designer who has a privilege to show his new collections whenever he wants, is having a second store in Paris opened. The first was his house/studio were you could meet him and see him work ( I was once lucky to have a chance of saying bonjour Mr. Alaia!) on Rue Moussy, and now it’s just next to all these big houses, few meters from Av. Montaigne. And the new boutique is amazing- the design, the colours, the CLOTHES… Simply, I want to Paris!
Design & Culture by Ed 