Hollywood Boulevard. Saint Laurent SS15

October 4, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

Saint Laurent’s SS15 was a really sultry, hot and steamy event. Other designers are channeling the idealism of the early ’70s this season; Hedi Slimane is into the sexy. “Un, deux, trois, coucher avec toi,” Al Eide sang on the soundtrack, specially commissioned for the show, but don’t let the French lyrics fool you. Everybody got the impression they were in Slimane’s adopted hometown of L.A., hanging backstage with glam-rock fan girls Lori Maddox and Sable Starr in their bad old not even legal days on the Sunset Strip. Is the new collection new tendancy of dressing “slutty”? Is it the Parisian non-chalance? Is it only all about nightlife of Los Angeles teens? One thing’s sure- it’s totally, totally Hedi. He does this aesthetic from the beginning of her Saint Laurent career. And this makes him a real individual of fashion world. These killer heels, super mini skirts, bawdy sheer blouses and avant-garde turbans looked like contrast- but together, they created a chaotic harmony. Lets also note the couture part- the “dirty” dresses were all ambroidered with crystals and sequins. Up close, these skirts and blazers were all about eel leather and velvet. Still having mixed emotions about the collection, but it was surely one of the most unforgettable this season. Art by John Baldessari.

Junior Suite. Sonia Rykiel SS15

October 3, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

“My mother wore it a lot, so this felt like coming back to her closet a little bit,” said Julie de Libran. “There are so many codes, and there’s such a nice heritage, which I’m lucky to be able to take from and reinvent, to kind of close the archive, and just go by my selective memory.” I love this kind of fresh perspective on the brand. The designer of Sonia Rykiel simply must be French! The collection, presented in the SR Saint-Germain store was chic, sexy and pretty much basic. It was a good starting point, which hopefully will be developed in the upcoming seasons. And by the way, Gigi Hadid stole the show…

Joan D’Arc. Givenchy SS15

October 3, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

Well. Riccardo Tisci AGAIN comes back to his roots, where he was all about stripes and graphical prints. And the harsh sexuality. I hoped this will never come back… but it did. The summer collection, which is totally not for summer, is all about leather, Jesus, heavy metal and, as Riccardo said, Joan d’Arc. Maybe there was something about Joan d’Arc in this collection… the provocation? The over-use of crosses and Christian symbols? I think this Madonna-ish trend died together with punk. The collection felt so, so weak, even dough the embroideries are certainly breath-taking. The collection didn’t introduce nothing new- it made woman look over-sexy and over-bossy. The last few seasons were pretty good, but this broke the timeline. And seeing the Kim and Kanye family ‘like all the time’ during the show looks seriously faux pas. We need a fresh breath, Tisci.

Frenchie. Chloe SS15

October 3, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

Gaby Aghion, the creator of Chloe, passed away one day before the SS15 show. And the summer collection is dedicated to her big role in French fashion. It just couldn’t be more french- by happenstance, the designer Clare Waight Keller sent out a collection that is the closest she has come yet to capturing Chloé’s free spirit. It may now be a label for international – rather than specifically French – young women, but the British-born designer has reached a point where everything is working well. The clothes had loosened up. A lot of the inspiration seemed like hippie-de-luxe from the Seventies – a trend for Summer 2015. But the high quality of a fresh, full-sleeved white shirt worn with tailored shorts, or a shorts outfit in saffron and rust suede, put Chloé in a class all its own. The denim here looked designer-worthy – especially a skirt with the denim-blue dyed into a sweater. And what the designer called her minimum and maximum looks – billowing long dresses and short ones – created a nice balance. Surely one of the strongest Chloe collection up to date.

Modern Frida. Celine SS15

October 3, 2014December 23, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

Phoebe Philo of Celine always does unexpected. After furry birkenstocks, orange muffs and Brassai inspired silhouettes, now it’s the time for… the modern woman. Celine’s modern woman reminds Frida Kahlo- strong, brave, provocative. She feminine, but wears masculine trousers and coats. She likes fringes, but without madness. She thinks colours, but tones them with black and white. She knows herself well, and knows what to cover and what to uncover. In other words, the SS15 collection is mix of everything Philo achieved up to now. We had some 60’s floras, we had long dress, we had trousers that in reality became skirts. And the new IT bag- the Curve. It’s sharp and architectural. Just like the cut-out tops with circle that exposed shoulders. But also, there was one thing I totally didn’t understand- the swiss cow bells worn as necklaces. I seriously don’t get it. But well, some things are getting more clear after sometime. That was surely one of the most experimental collection by Celine. But it truly explained the Celine woman.