PARIS, Feb 28, 2008 /FR/ — What is it that makes the women dressed by Barbara Bui unmistakably different? Season after season, the designer declines her precise vision: delicate and yet not chichi, refined but not classic, modern but with no gimmicks, the picture of her urban strong girl is redefining the contours of femininity for the 21st century.
The spirit of Helmut Newton was conjured up in this clean-cut black sheath with a high split walking first the runway for this fall 2008 collection, particularly when from that split emerged a leg shoed with a red platform underlined aver the ankle by a wide leather band. Like the symbol of a dauntingly seductive woman, this first exit did set the tone for a collection which is drawing clear lines around the female body paired with a contemporary elegance… [more]
Fall 2008 Runway Trend: Art Deco a la Minimalist
PARIS, March 14, 2008 /FR/ — Even to the connoisseur’s eye attending the runway shows at Paris Fashion Week, this last trend of the season is not as obvious as the previous ones mentioned here. To detect it a good knowledge of Costume history and 2Oth century design movements is required.
Let us go back to the beginning of the 20Th century, when a real revolution marked a turn in the world of design and art: Art Nouveau was creating new shapes in buildings, lamp shades, theatre costumes, and fashion illustrations. Then rather quickly Art Deco replaced the curves of Art Nouveau with its straight lines and its geometric embellishments (think for instance of the Chrysler building on New York City). [more]
Fall 2008 Runway Trend: Accents of Haute Couture
PARIS, March 13, 2008 /FR/ — Is it because Paris Luxury Ready-to-Wear is slowly replacing Haute Couture as the new world trend-setter in fashion? Is it because Haute Couture houses want to reveal their full identity also in their Ready-to-Wear collections? Is it because the industrial techniques used in he manufacturing of clothes are now permitting what was reserved before only to the best made-to-measure craft? Or is it because these pieces are only meant for the runway and will not find their way to retail? The answer is probably contained in the questions themselves, to some degree and according to the fashion houses that would answer them. [more]
Fall 2008 Runway Trend: Volumed Architecture
PARIS, March 11, 2008 /FR/ — One of the trends seen this season on the decisive runways of Paris Fashion Week, could be described as a long-legged silhouette topped by a baby-doll dress, skirt or coat, most times with the hemline placed at mid-thigh, with a big volume displaying an elaborate structure.Seen on the very first day among the collection presented by Fatima Lopes, or on the next day by Cher Michel Klein, it was decisively enhanced in both case either by very high stilettos or by high-heeled boots of second skin leather covering also the hip. Legs were in both cases elongated, clad in thee boots or in the black leggings also seen in the two previous seasons on the catwalk. [more]
Mobile Art: Chanel Contemporary Art Container
HONG KONG, March 11, 2008 /FR/— Chanel has certainly created a surprise announcing that the French brand was to inugurate tomorrow (March 12) in Hong Kong , “Mobile Art”, a container of modern Art created by architect Zaha Hadid .
A modern brand, constantly moving forward, cultivating the extraordinary and its innate sense of the moment, Chanel is resolutely open to the world and turning towards the future. It is this propulsion that incites Chanel to perpetually create surprise, from one continent to the next, and to impact on our collective imaginary consciousness. [more]
Hannah Mac Gibbon takes the Creative Helm at Chloé
PARIS, March 11, 2008 /FR/ — The CEO of Parisian house Chloé, Ralph Toledano, has announced yesterday that Hannah MacGibbon was named Creative Director. She succeeds in this position at Chloé Paulo Melim Andersson who has been at the house’s creative helm since october 2006. Hannah MacGibbon had collaborated previously with Chloé for five years, from 2001 to 2006. In more recent times, she was the Creative Director for the development and the launch of the new Chloé fragrance. Before that, she was an assitant to Mr. Valentino Garravani. Hannah MacGibbon is a graduate of British design school Central Saint Martin’s. [more]
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Fall 2008 Runway Trend : The Cinched Romantic Amazon
PARIS, March 10, 2008 /FR/ — Looking back on the Fall 2008 season and particularly on the catwalks of Paris Fashion Week, several trends emerge. The most blatent one concerns a silhouette with a marked waistline and moulded bust.
It might remind the amazons by the strapped, fastened, cinched characteristics and some asymmetrical top (Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière). Compulsory waistline is marked by tight pleats, a belt or a wide waistband. The curves of the bust and waist are moulded inside a piece or series of pieces meant first to protect the body (Ann Demeulemeester). [more]