FASHION Magazine

Paris: Day two

Posted on February 24, 2008

By Sarah Casselman

Shown: Dior Fall 2008. Photography by Peter Stigter.

Started the day with a croquet-madame and a café au lait outside near the Palais Royal. Frenchy females are wearing: black ballet flats, wayfarers (still), black mini capes, leather bombers, chain-handled lady bags or everything-but-the-kitchen-sink totes.

Shed a brief tear standing outside Dior sans ticket, but soon realized that the real show was happening outside the venue. Spotted my fave “Cashmere Mafia” mama, Lucy Liu, looking gorge in an off-white chiffon skirt and topper. So tiny in person, and flawless, flawless skin.
See photos from the Dior show.

Editors heading into show wore: vintage leopard-print short furs, YSL Tribute Totes, Pierre Hardy platforms and huge oversized cocktail rings–worn Mary-Kate Olsen-style. By now I am fainting with fashion envy.

Next up, Maison Martin Margiela. See Kanye West waiting in line to get into the show with the rest of the fashion pack. Grabbed a seat across from Jefferson Hack, looking too cool for school in his Converse kicks and military jacket. Show is very Cirque du Soleil meets spidey. Lots of unitards with knit webbed dresses and skirts. Drapey, one-legged and one-shouldered one-pieces in black and nude, fishnets,caftan-inspired tops, court-jester-style hosiery. The item you need: ginormous briefcase-style clutches. The item you'll actually buy: python clutch or a pair of fab exotic-skin boots. Yum.  My fave moment: exaggerated cocoon-style standing collars on egg-shaped coats, heavy jagged zippers running down the length of micro minis and can't-breathe-but-beautiful leather pants. See photos from this show.

Back to Hôtel Westin for Vivienne Westwood. Salon so packed I thought I would melt from the heat–bye bye croquet-madame...

Viv didn't let her cult followers down. Layering and more layering in ethnic tribal prints and patterns. All very over the top. Loved the drama–oversized football player jackets, paint slashed down pieces, sky-high hats and Rupunzel-style braids all culminated with a stilts-wearing model making her way down the runway in a stunning green print gown à la Marie Antoinette. Standing O from the fash pack and Miss Viv walked the full length of the runway taking it all in.

Back on the Metro and met up with Brylie Fowler–Miss Plastique–who gave me her rundown on the week thus far: nothing unexpectedly new just yet, designers appear more focused on commercial collections. We shall see...

On to Yohji Yamamoto, where I spot Italian Vogue ed. Anna Piaggi making her way past the crowds. Yohji was an expectedly sombering experience. Between the gong of the soundtrack and the tons of layering in black, and more black–the poor gent beside me began nodding off. Though if he’d stayed awake he might have noticed the Yohji-designed bags for Hermès that the models sported.

The mini panniers on full, pleated dirndl skirts gave a shapely silhouette. Lots of raw-edged jackets and skirts, smudgy dark makeup with Princess Leia-style knots. Actually really liked the drop-crotch pants–perfect for a fashion dare!

Best piece: black and cobalt blue parachute dress. Loved the shock of colour. Burnt orange on several looks. Colour at Yohji? Oh, mon Dieu...

People buzzing about: Marion Cotillard’s  Oscar win, Sarkozy’s bad manners and which celebs are flying in for YSL later this week. Feet are feeling très fatiguée and ready for a sit down and a Coca-Cola light–even the soda names are cooler here! À bientôt. Xo

Categories: Runway Report | Paris