Chanel S/S11 PARIS

Another quite sombre show for spring/summer with a lot of sheer black but there were some great updates on the classic Chanel look, with mini suits and a cool classy look in loads of different shapes and fabrics.  It went a bit astray in the middle with some gothic and some gypsy/teadress twists, and I’m not sure about some of the lengths which were quite unflattering. I hate the shoes and the leather knee high things, but otherwise there is a lot here to choose from.

Source: Style.com

Alexander McQueen S/S11 PARIS

So much has been riding on this first posthumous ready-to-wear collection and I have to say I really liked it.  There were some familiar stand out McQueen details in the dramatic silhouettes, the exuberant use of feathers and butterflies  and corn stalks, beautiful frothing organic dresses.  It was almost a ‘best of’ show and it was hard to make a selection from the total of 35 looks. Sarah Burton worked with McQueen for 15 years and it is clear that he left a good many ideas to work on, but once these have been explored I can’t help wondering where she will take the label.  It’s already being suggested that she has brought a slight softening to the design as well as the presentation….

Source: Style.com

Valentino S/S11 PARIS

Another sombre, wintery collection which seems to have grown out of this season’s themes rather than something fresh for next year.  Lots of sheer overlays, lots of lace, lots of ruffles and polka dots, and kitten heels again.  It’s pretty and it’s probably what Jackie O would be wearing now.

Source: Style.com

Stella McCartney S/S11 PARIS

Was Stella McCartney joking? Have the pregnancy hormones got to her? Is it just not worth getting dressed properly any more? Denim tents, tablecloth prints of outsize oranges and lemons, and aren’t those also halved grapefruits? Surely no one can rock this even in an ironic sort of way? This is just bizarre.

Source: Style.com

Yves Saint Laurent S/S11 PARIS

Another designer who has blurred the boundaries between the seasons, Stefano Pilati’s collection was a touch autumnal.  The blue trench is lovely, but for spring/summer?  He offered a nice variety of looks, touching on some old YSL classics and at the same time  adding in some  great contemporary details in the cut outs, the necklines and the diagonal pockets.

Source: Style.com

Chloe S/S11 PARIS

This was about a conservative girl, elegant and pretty, with shorts under her sheers.  The colours were, as usual, muted, though there was a welcome splash of bright red.  Lines were simple and clean and the hair slicked back and neat.

Source: Style.com

Giambattista Valli S/S11 PARIS

This was a really summery, feel-good show with a lot of white, some lovely, light sheer fabrics and a young sexy attitude to life. The brocade type patterning was on fine silk and the embellishments were kept to a minimum which kept the effect light.  And suprisingly I really liked the flat shoes.

Source: Style.com

Cover Try

Shazaam! What a cover. Eniko Mihalik for Harper’s Bazaar Spain. Super sexy, curves in all the right places, amazing hair. I love the relaxed outstretched hand with killer red nails.  A cover with real attitude.

Source: FashionGoneRogue.com

Victor & Rolf S/S11 PARIS

Victor & Rolf as always delivered a controversial and thought-provoking collection. They always bring something different and unexpected. I loved it.  This is inspirational fashion.  This season they ran with the idea of all aspects of shirting: the stripes, the tails, the yoke, collars, cuffs, playing with these details in all sorts of asymmetrical and highlighted ways. The models’ frames were almost dwarfed by the volume and layers of men’s shirting and in one of the looks they play on this by binding one of the shirt-dresses round with black. They explored the theme so fully, the finale wedding dress skirt was made from shirt tails and the bodice from starchy pearl-studded collars. Genius.

Source: Style.com

Lanvin S/S11 PARIS

I just love the extravagant movement in this first photo, it’s all about the drama and the walk and that’s why it had to go up. This was an interesting mix from Alber Elbaz for Lanvin, pairing flowing fabrics barely held together over lots of bare skin with more military outfits with their metal and beaded details that showed the harder edge that always creeps in somewhere. There was great colour crescendoing through the show  from beige to pink to yellow to orange.

Source: Style.com