Graphic by Natalie Hicks/The Minaret
Paris Fashion Week may be over but the collections brought forth from top designers are still the buzz of the fashion industry. The shows were grand and the fashion was inspirational with designs that are sure to trickle down from the top fashion houses that created them to more affordable department stores as the seasons pass by. College students might be wearing trends inspired by these collections by next fall.
Designer Sarah Burton did Alexander McQueen justice with her futuristic beekeeper inspired line. All the clothes resembled bees in some way from the honeycomb runway, beekeeper-esque hats, bee studded accessories and even bee-shaped silhouettes.
Mesh and lace honeycomb skirts began the show with bee print jacquard jackets. Models teetered down the runway in mesh boots, the most daring being black thigh highs with glimmering golden accents. All models wore stylish forms of beekeeper masked hats in black and gold that completely shrouded their faces. They wore tortoise shell chokers, belts and cuffs covered in jeweled and golden bees.
Tortoise shell cage peplum skirts and corsets, netted bodices and cinched waists added a fetish element. Then, the show ended with floral appliqué ball gowns in rich reds and yellows. The overall purpose of the collection told a story of life and beauty, because it began with bees and ended with flowers in full bloom.
Designer Raf Simmons presented his highly-anticipated first ready-to-wear collection for Dior, a collection noted for its minimalistic approach.
Black, finely tailored suits began the show as models walked down the runway in pointed pumps and glittery eye makeup. The minimalism switched to retro near the show’s end with a nod to the 50s, presenting neck scarves and boat-neck shirts tucked into floral ball skirts.
Black took over much of the runway with bright pops of color like pink, yellow and metallic accents. The evening wear and cocktail attire in the middle of the show presented simple and fitted silhouettes with beading and tulle veiling.
It might be bold to say that the theatrics of designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Louis Vuitton and Chanel were more interesting than the fashion, but the makeup and hair was phenomenal in and of themselves. Gaultier seemed to have the most fun with his collection because it was more than just inspired by pop and rock stars of the 80s. The models were outfitted and made up to look like 80s stars including Madonna, Boy George, Annie Lenox, Ziggy Stardust and Michael Jackson. The clothing and makeup were so convincing that it seemed as if the actual pop stars were walking down the runway at moments.
Marc Jacob’s collection for Louis Vuitton was one of the most memorable for its runway designed by Daniel Buren. The long and glossy runway was printed with a yellow and white checkered pattern, and models entered and exited the runway in pairs on four escalators with steps striped in white and yellow. The 60s-inspired fashion featured small and large checkers in yellow, black, grey and white. The structured handbags were devoid of logos and perfectly matched to the clothing which was at times “one-note” as reviewed by Women’s Wear Daily.
That leaves us with Chanel, presented on a seemingly never-ending runway lined with white windmills. The collection, described by head designer and creative director Karl Lagerfeld as “Neo Coco,” was an updated and renewed look at Coco Chanel, the founder of Chanel.
“Oversized” seemed to be the running theme throughout the show with exaggerated boleros and jackets and giant pearl cluster necklaces and bracelets. The most talked about and memorable moment of the show, however, was the oversized hula hoop bag, best described as two black hula hoops attached to a large Chanel quilted bag in alpine white.
Fashion week may be over and some trends may be left at the runway (hula hoop bags seem a tad impractical for work or class), but the shows were extravagantly rebellious and certainly beautiful. The more outrageous the better.
Jessica Keesee can be reached at jessica.keesee@theminaretonline.com.
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