It’s over! Show season finished with Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday – but what if you weren’t among the chosen few with the all-important front row invites? To help you blag the water cooler chat, we tell you what the talk of the town was at PFW.
1. “Hedi at
The four words guaranteed to elicit a lengthy monologue from anyone in fashion. NYT critic slammed the grunge-inspired collection, labelling it a show of “lazy values”. Lisa Armstrong from The Telegraph was puzzled: “I’m not sure Slimane has complete confidence in the understated power of his tailoring to carry him through.” FROW starlets like Kirsten Dunst and Sky Ferreira loved it. In short, it was the collection everyone has an opinion on – and you can’t buy that kind of publicity. Well played, Hedi, well played.
2. “Did you hear Antony Hegarty at Givenchy? Di-vine.”
The Antony & The Johnsons singer is more known for his musical chops and impeccable curating skills (see: last year’s Meltdown festival at the Southbank), but he’s also struck up an unlikely friendship with Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci. The designer, who once described the singer as “a mixture of Klaus Nomi and Edith Piaf”, chose Hegarty to soundtrack his autumn/winter show, kicking off with a transcendental rendition of ‘You Are My Sister‘. More of this, less pounding techno, please.
3. “So I see Kate’s back on the runway – but only for her BFF Marc, obvs.”
Kate Moss hasn’t been in a show since 2011, when Marc Jacobs famously revealed that she specially requested to walk in Vuitton spring/summer 2012 (left). Lo and behold, she appeared again in Jacobs’ autumn/winter show, wearing a see-through embroidered slip and a cropped wig and upstaging a certain Ms Delevingne – though apparently Moss been the night before. Some things never change.
4. “OMG, the Starbucks van outside Kenzo literally saved my life. Literally.”
The temperature might hover under ten degrees but you’ll never catch some fashion folk stepping out in sensible tights or jumpers. What would their mums say? Kenzo pre-empted the call of maternal concern and kept everyone warm with logo-emblazoned blankets and a Starbucks van outside the venue. Thanks Mum.
5. “Did you catch the Valentino show? They’re doing everything right.”
Valentino designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli offered us feminine fairytale mystique in one of the strongest shows of the season. Looking at paintings by Flemish masters such as Girl With A Pearl Earring, the two delivered a collection that builds on their strengths but still pushes their vision into new directions. So there were the gorgeous dresses and gowns they’ve built their rep on, but these were shortened and the silhouettes streamlined and austere. Sublime.
6. “Cher. No. Words.”
No, we really don’t think you’re strong enough – at least judging from the Twitter reactions at the Gareth Pugh to the sight of Cher resplendent in a giant hoop earrings and a don’t-give-a-fuck smile. You know those front row faces that nervous PRs beg, gift and (occasionally) pay to turn up? All of them, outshone in a single moment. Beautiful. And it looks like her penchant for out-there headgear hasn’t abated, either.
Words: Zing Tsjeng