Givenchy Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2010

Riccardo Tisci proved it is possible to translate a ski & scuba-theme into a dark, mysterious collection. There were some tight, cheerful knits with a snowpattern and neoprene pants, but it never got too sporty. The slim pants and skirts, unzipped and unfurled at the waist, referenced scuba gear for some, Seventies ski outfits for others.

It was just another collection with Tisci’s signature tailoring:  sharp coats, tuxedo suits, and lean black pants. Red glitter gloves, bags and lips accompanied the clothes, as did sexy scarlet, black and nude lace. One of the best looks were the black leather pieces — mini slips and skirts — mixed with lace.

Stella McCartney Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2010

Suddenly clean, minimal fashion is a hit. It started with Jil Sander and Raf Simons, then Phoebe Philo at Celine and now Stella McCartney got caught by it too. Gone are her sexy, flirtatious clothes with a classic touch, her fall/wintershow opened with a sleek gray cashmere coat just above the knee, worn with bare legs and slingbacks. Second outfit was a camel/blue  tunic with oversized stripes worn with slacks.

Gray, black, blue and camel were the main colors of the collection, with orange and fuchsia as shocking contrast. Graphic illusions were created with floating sleeves and geometric wool appliques on organza dresses. Cosy and comfortable were oversized cardigans in fishermen’s rib and a wrap coat in structural wool. Great basics were the stretch stirrup trousers, their slim silhouette paired effortlessly with the knitwear and tunics.

The eveningwear looked more glamorous with the draped backs and flesh revealing slits. The dresses had long train extensions.

The show was dedicated to her family, kids and team, but also to Lee – Alexander- McQueen. ‘You’re missed’, Stella wrote in a personal note.

Céline Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2010

Phoebe Pilo’s debut springcollection at Céline was a huge success. Copies of her crisply chic safari jackets and dresses, the long white shirts and A-line skirts are dominating the stores of  cheap fashionlabels as we speak, but the house’s originals are also selling very well. Philo’s first collection was  a breath of fresh air at a time when fashion needed a respite from recession and the glamazon  look of black leather and big shoulders.

So expectations were high for her second collection. But as Philo said in her interview with T-magazine, she continued her work with great investment pieces in the best fabrics and in her signature clean, sophisticated cut. No frills, but deep blue coats instead, tailoring, short jackets, skinny pants, white (lace) shirts and leather pockets as a contrasting detail at A-line skirts. Ultra-chique and a winner were the white lammy capes. Simple, but feminine.

Costume National Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2010

The Costume National-collection reflected the menswear-collection, presented earlier this year in Milan, with lots of knitwear, wool and leather. The overall image was that of a tough girl wearing brown  leather suits or skirts mixed with fluffy, fringy knitted jackets, sometimes sleeveless,  and sweaters. Dresses were short and also had fringed detailing.

It was the usual Costume National mix and match of contrasting structures in fabrics, shiny and matte, fluffy and smooth, woven and knitted. Sometimes orange clashed with brown, or silver with black. Only this time it looked more tailored but raw too.

Comme des Garcons Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2010

Again the female body and fashion’s obsessions with it triggered Rei Kawakubo to create her fall winter collection for Comme des Garcons. And again, like in her spring 1997 collection, she aded bulk and heft to all the places fashion avoids if it seeks to flatter and make sexy.

Humps and bumps were placed on shoulders, hips, backs and bodices. Kawakubo used pillowform outcrops of padding which she added to the clothes – coats, jackets, pants, skirts, dresses – and therefor completely changed the silhouette. This was a show that discussed the rules of beauty, ‘Inside Decoration’ was the description the designer gave in her press release. It’s probably the beauty within that makes her ugly clothes shine and elegant.

But you’ll never know with Kawakubo, the only thing you know for sure is that she keeps on tickling you and you fashion-expectations over and over again.

Viktor & Rolf FW2010: transformation

The performance/show of Viktor & Rolf yesterday was about dressing and undressing, the whole machinery of fashion, the guts to wear something BIG and exaggerated. Especially the last transformation blew the audience’s mind: the big tulle skirt that the designers transformed into a huge cape/collar that was the topping on the last outfit.

A true fashion-moment.

Versus Catwalk Fashion Show Milan FW2010

Skirts like cupcakes, that’s the best way to describe the stiff  pleated miniskirts Christopher Kane created for his second Versus-collection. It is amazing to see how well the British designer is reviving Gianni Versace’s heyday style. The young, strong but sexy look is still there, but the styling, colors and textiles are modern and very now.

Dresses had that slightly fetish look, but the skirts were playful mixed with T-shirts printed with old Bruce Weber for Versace photos and fluffy cardigans. Colors moved from peacock blue and plum to red, navy and black.

Roberto Cavalli Catwalk Fashion Show Milan FW2010

It was a every inch a very decadent show at Roberto Cavalli. But decadency is part of the house’s dna. And like more designers in Milan, Cavalli celebrated his roots (he’s 40 years in business no, and yes the guy is 70) and went back to the early days when he was designing for the happy, hippie few.

Cavalli’s fw2010 collection was  shaped around the rich hippie, bohemian look of his early days in the seventies. Lots of harem pants, draped dresses in tulle, long floorsweeping dresses, brocaded military coats, jackets in studded leather, faded animal-prints and embroideries all over. Colors were dark and rich (black, white, gray, red), the styling was mix & match.

Missoni Catwalk Fashion Show Milan FW2010

Again Angela Missoni presented a collection full of lusciously layers, this time – according to the shownotes- inspired by ‘Africa meets Scotland, folk meets punk’ .

It was a cocktail of patchwork skirts, tweed shorts, cropped sweaters draped at the back, thick pullovers and wrap-coats. Cozy tartans met tribal patterned knits, here and there deconstrcuted and accessorized to Masai effect.

Colors were wonderful, different tones of brown, black and gray met with more brighter colors as lightblue, red and green. Silver and metallics added some light and glamor. Shoes were in matching fabrics and colors.

Dolce & Gabbana Catwalk Fashion Show Milan FW2010

The Dolce & Gabbana fashion show started with a short (black & white) film in which we saw Domenico and Stefano working in their atelier. We watched them putting their first designs together and saw how they put them on on some models. We could see the joy in their eyes as they slowly created several gorgeous designs, of course with a little help. Actually, all of the atelier’s employees were introduced in the film. In their long, clean, white jackets they smiled at the camera as the first models came up.

The fall/winter collection was built around three themes: Sicilianita’, sartorialita’ and sensualita’. They were reflected in several ways:

1. Domenico and Stefano (after 25 years) went back to their Sicilian roots (Sicilianita’).

2. The clothes represented Dolce & Gabbana’s signature tailoring (sartorialita’).

3. The models looked very feminine and sensual in the lingerie-inspired designs (sensualita’).

We listened to the Moulin Rouge soundtrack ‘Come what may’ as the first models quickly passed in some black tailored jackets combined with short pants and lace dresses. When a few corsets were introduced, we were sure: the lingerie-influences from last summer were back.

The models all wore gold accessories. Some of the clothes were decorated with lots of golden coins. And the ‘new women’, as Stefano Gabbana put it, carried an I-pod with golden earphones.

All girls  looked very lady-like. Though the double breasted jackets might have looked a little masculine, they were executed in a soft and feminine way. The fabrics: lace, silk and satin added to the sensual feeling of the collection.

Leopard prints, polka dots and floral prints combined beautifully with the black of the collection. Like in the summer collection those different prints were matched in one look. It looked stunning.

During the finale 75 models came onto the runway, dressed in fitted black jackets combined with shorts and small dresses.

The show made us shiver and, as we heard, it made the people backstage shed a few tears.

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