03/07/08

Glam Ladies at Louis Vuitton and the Return of the Chloe Girl

If there's a fashion moment that's evoked a lot lately, it's the mythic glamour of the oh-so-80's Thierry Mugler shows in Paris. Marc Jacobs surprised everyone by summoning this feeling with his show last Sunday. Forget the sexy mess of last Spring—the Jacobs lady this season is very "done."

The Vuitton show confirmed it: we're going to be seeing a lot of pleated pants come fall. I saw the trend worn by...

Posted at 08:15 PM in Paris Fashion Week Blog | Permalink | Comments (2)

03/05/08

Andrew Gn, Akris, Martin Grant—Superchic!

One trend that seems to be emerging from this Paris season is long and lean. This is not to be confused with long and blousy (think Nina Ricci Fall 2008); rather, this silhouette has nipped-in shoulders and waist, and a straight or slightly flared pant or skirt.

It's a chic look that can go very easily from office to evening, which typically is not a common characteristic of clothes you see on a Paris runway.

One surprise was at Andrew Gn this year, where there were many...

Posted at 01:06 PM in Paris Fashion Week Blog | Permalink | Comments (1)

03/03/08

Lanvin is for Lovers

While I'm very inspired by the forward-thinking clothes at Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent, and I understand why Stacey gets swept away by the chic perfection at Giambattista Valli, I'm really a softie who loves satin, bows, and gorgeous dresses—everything Alber Elbaz stands for.

The Lanvin show last night was my last show of this season, and it was a completely satisfying ending...

Posted at 01:05 PM in Paris Fashion Week Blog | Permalink | Comments (1)

03/02/08

Nina Ricci and the Home Stretch

Last night I was at a bar in Saint Germain called Le Lup watching YSL designer Stefano Pilati, actress Chloe Sevigny, and Dior Jewelry designer Victoire de Castellane take turns deejaying the Self Service/Colette Party. It was such a trip—they had hired these great dancers to vogue on stage, and editors were letting loose on the dance floor. I knew I'd be exhausted this morning, the last day of the shows, but it was worth it...

Posted at 08:46 AM in Paris Fashion Week Blog | Permalink | Comments (1)

02/29/08

Chanel and the World's Trendiest Carousel

The production at this morning's Chanel show at the Grand Palais was so good that I wondered to myself: what they will do next year—land a helicopter on the stage?

I'm going with the Broadway comparison because there was this pretty, functioning carousel (Carousel is my favorite of all the Rodgers and Hammerstein œuvre), and we even got to see Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha dance a little! It was less Brigadoon and more Grease, though...

Posted at 11:46 AM in Paris Fashion Week Blog | Permalink | Comments (9)

02/29/08

Fashion Week Awards (In Which We Don't Mention Clothes At All)

My friend and I went to a book signing and cocktail party for the Warhol by Galella book at Le Bon Marché department store tonight. We thought we could take advantage of the store's extended hours and do a little shopping tour. Well, we tried, but our hearts just weren't in it. Hey, we've seen a lot of pretty dresses this week!

Maybe it's too early to be handing out awards, but it feels like a quick roundup of some Fashion Week favorites (in the non-sartorial categories of invites, music, and special effects), could be just what we need...

Posted at 10:11 AM in Paris Fashion Week Blog | Permalink | Comments (3)

02/28/08

Stop Smiling, Anja! (Just Kidding.)

If Stella McCartney ever tells her models to stop smiling on the catwalk, I will be really disappointed. It's a good reason to drag yourself out of bed on the morning after the heaviest show day of the week, put on your platform boots, and truck on over—because you probably don't want to miss the top models smiling on the catwalk...

Posted at 10:41 PM in Paris Fashion Week Blog | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/28/08

Midwestern Models and the Givenchy Show

We're a few days into Fashion Week, and I've been seeing Chicago model Karlie Kloss (featured in our March issue) everywhere! This is the 15-year-old rising star's second season of shows, and editors are chatting about the certain flair she brings to her walk (they're calling it "The Kloss"). The Kloss is slow, with little upper body movement, ribcage canted back, and chin tilted far down, which apparently makes her look like a...

Posted at 12:25 AM in Paris Fashion Week Blog | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/26/08

Yohji Yamamoto, Gaspard Yurkievich, and an Ikram Sighting!

Yohji Yamamoto sent out an army of great little chic coats with interesting details last night—little body-hugging jackets with cinched waists, in leather and wool. All they needed to go from runway to Rush Street was a pairing with a cool jean or trouser...

Posted at 08:41 PM in Paris Fashion Week Blog | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/26/08

Art and Fun at Bless—The Meaning's Up to You

Bless can't be found in Chicago yet (although I could imagine a few of the accessories—cool jewelrey, "sock boots"—at Hejfina), but I go to the show because it's so much fun. It's artistic, quirky, and unlike anything you'd see during Fashion Week.

Bless dabbles in a bit of everything—beauty products, books, jewelry, fur wigs—often in collaboration with other artists. And their way of staging shows is full of the same surprise you would expect from an art collective based in Berlin and Paris. Last year, they staged a soccer match. This year, invitees entered a large...

Posted at 12:27 AM in Paris Fashion Week Blog | Permalink | Comments (1)