PFW Haute Couture 2015: Three French Greats

Chanel

A Chanel catwalk show at Paris’ Grand Palais is always a must see and once again Karl Lagerfeld did not disappoint! The theme this year was a Chanel garden that blossomed as a Chanel gardener circled it with a watering can. The show started with a few bold coloured 60s suits, which were quickly replaced by many updated versions of the iconic Chanel Tweed suit, with lots of midriffs on show, large mesh hats and crystallised floral beanies. The collection then moved from modern tailoring to flowing, loose and, most importantly, floral dresses.  This is by far my favourite part of the collection as I’m a sucker for transparent/mesh material and I loved all the flowers – perfect for SS15!

Il faut toujours regarder le défilé de Chanel au Grand Palais et encore une fois Karl Lagerfeld ne nous a pas déçu! Cette année le thème est un jardin de Chanel qui fleuri quand un jardinier l'encercle avec un arrosoir. On commence par quelques costumes de couleurs vives de style années 60. Ensuite, on bouge vite à plein de versions du costume tweed iconique de Chanel, cette fois plus moderne avec des hauts qui montre l'abdomen, des gros chapeaux en filet et des bonnets en laine fleuris. Au final on bouge des looks ajustés et moderne aux robes amples, flottantes et fleuries. C'est sûr que je préfère cette partie car j'aime trop du tissu en filet/transparent et tous les fleurs sont parfaits pour printemps-été 15!

Jean Paul Gaultier

A cloud of dry ice surrounds a beautiful bride who kicks off the Jean Paul Gaultier couture show wearing a gorgeous white strapless mesh floor-length dress with a split right up the front revealing high-waisted silk knickers. Then come the wedding guests sporting looks of different styles, colours and fabrics to make this collection as varied as any wedding party would be. My particular favourites are those mixing black with cream tones and using a range of materials from lace and mesh to satin. Of course, I particularly enjoy the bringing together of classic tailoring and beautiful girly pleated dresses as well. An absolutely stunning collection from a haute couture pro.

Une nuance de neige carbonique entoure une belle mariée pour dresser le décor du défilé couture de Jean Paul Gaultier. Elle porte une robe longue en filet blanc sans bretelles avec une déchirure devant qui révèle des culottes taille haute en soie. Ensuite, il y a des invitées de mariage dans des looks de style, couleurs et tissus différents pour permettre une collection variée comme serait une vraie fête de mariage. Mes looks favoris sont ceux qui mélange du noir et de la crème en utilisant une gamme de matières de dentelle et filet à satin. Bien-sûr, j'aime bien les belles robes plissées qui emprunte aussi le look ajusté. Une collection divine d'un pro en haute couture.

Christian Dior

This is what I call a truly modern couture collection. Creative Director Raf Simons is daring, bold and has designed outfits that a young fashionista can relate to. From printed technicolour catsuits to 60s style mini dresses and full A-line ballerina skirts; this collection has everything. I absolutely love the printed plastic transparent raincoats, having been lusting over for them years. Looks like Simons got the Lagerfeld memo, or vice versa, when it comes to embellishments for SS15. This collection is covered in sequins, showing that sparkles are not just for Christmas - hooray!

Voilà c'est la vraie haute couture moderne. Directeur Créatif Raf Simons est osé, audacieux et a crée une collection à laquelle la fashionista jeune peut relier. Des combinaisons en motifs technicolors aux mini-robes de style années 60s et des jupes longues et pleines comme une ballerine, cette collection est parfaite. J'aime trop les vestes de pluie plastiques transparentes en motifs, évidemment vu que je les kiffe depuis des années. De plus, c'est comme Simons a reçu le mémo de Lagerfeld, ou vice versa, concernant des embellissements pour printemps-été 15. Cette collection inclus plein de paillettes, montrant qu'elles ne sont pas que pour Noël - hourra! 

Izzie x

Image sources: Vogue and Telegraph

The Fifties

Glamour is what makes a man ask for a woman's phone number…it is also what makes a woman ask another woman for the number of their designer!

Lilly Daché (French Fashion designer)

Chanel / Dior / Chanel

At the weekend I went to a great exhibition at Palais Galliera, as known as the fashion museum. The exhibition was called "Les Années 50" and looked at French fashion between 1947 and 1957. After World War Two there was a scandalous change to French couture which would change fashion forever. Tight bodices, clinched waistlines, flattering necklines and flowing full skirts set the style for a new femininity and was miles away from the straight and restricted dress of the Second World War. This was dubbed the 'New Look' and designers such as Christian Dior, followed by Yves Saint-Laurent, Cristóbal Balenciaga and, later, Hubert de Givenchy dominated the fashion scene of Paris in the 1950s.

Dior / Jacques Fath

Fashion designers in the 1950s just loved creating evening dresses, putting all their fantasy and imagination into them. Think lots of velvet, lace, satin and jewels with bustier necklines and long gloves, it was the most elegant part of a designers' collection. This Jacques Fath dress above has actual seeds of corn sewn onto the bustier, which is just enchanting. 

It was in the 1950s that the classic summer dress, that we all know and love, was born. The young wanted a free and liberating wardrobe for summer, whether it was spent in the city or by the beach. Colourful afternoon dresses, flowing skirts and beach outfits were worn next to the skin for ease and comfort. This was just the start of the ready-to-wear trend that established itself for good in the 1960s.

Lingerie also makes a comeback in the 1950s with push up bras and petticoats being the essentials for any wardrobe. Plain stockings are replaced with embroidered or printed tights that went with the outfit. The previously worn corset is remembered in the girdle, which would soon be banished during the 1960s, not re-appearing again until the 1980s. 

So just a little fashion history for you there. Get yourself to Palais Galliera if you can, this exhibition is running until 2nd November 2014.

Izzie x

Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture SS14: Chanel

Paris Fashion Week is in full swing and yesterday was Chanel’s Haute Couture show at the Grand Palais so I thought I would take myself down there to check out the looks being showcased by the most elite of the fashion world. To sum up, furs, black and the occasional strange headpiece.

The atmosphere was completely different to what I experienced when I went to London Fashion Week in September. In London the courtyard of Somerset House was full of edgy and bang on trend bloggers hanging around trying to get snapped. I was actually hoping to see some of this happening outside the Grand Palais but it was mainly paparazzi, television crews and the odd blogger, most of whose style did not grab my attention. Perhaps I was at the wrong show for this, or perhaps there will be more of this in the ready to wear week in February.  

 (Photos from vogue.fr)

Chanel’s Haute Couture collection is amazing. Any designer who puts their models in couture trainers and a bumbag is a winner in my eyes. The clothes are beautifully intricate and elegant. I love the tight waist lines with loose fitting crop tops over the top – a style which I’m sure will be re-created by the high street shops in the coming months. Bravo Karl!

What do you think of the Chanel collection?

Izzie x

Paris Fashion Week battre son plein et hier Chanel Haute Couture était au Grand Palais. Alors, j’y suis allée pour voir les looks des plus élites du monde de la mode pendant qu’ils arrivaient. En gros, ils ont porté les fourrures, le noir et un bandeau bizarre.

L’atmosphère était complètement différente à laquelle que j’ai trouvé à London Fashion Week quand j’y suis allée en septembre. A Londres le cour de Somerset House est plein de bloggeuses hyper tendances qui veulent qu’on leurs prend des photos. En fait, je souhaitais voir cela dehors du Grand Palais mais il y avait surtout du paparazzi, des équipes de télévision et des bloggeuses sporadiques et leurs styles n’ont pas vraiment pris mon attention. Peut-être ce n’était pas le show pour cela ou peut-être on verra plus pendant la semaine de prêt à porter en février.

La collection d’haute couture de Chanel est magnifique. Un créateur de mode qui fait porter ses mannequins les baskets coutures et une banane est top aux mes yeux. Les vêtements sont merveilleusement complexes et élégants. J’aime bien les tailles serrées avec des hauts courts – un look que les magasins de centre ville recréeront  dans les mois qui viennent, j’en suis sûr ! Bravo Karl !

Qu'est-ce vous pensez de la collection de Chanel?

Bisous, Izzie

90s Throwback

It is inevitable that trends come back into fashion again and again. When I started wearing skinny jeans or “drainpipes” in the noughties, my parents could remember the last time they were in fashion, but this time I remember the trend from the first time around. Let the nostalgia begin as we all go back to the 90s.

 This outfit is my slightly more modern take on a 90s look. I think these jeans look great with a platform/creeper shoe and the crop top makes the jeans look less bulky. I bought these Levi jeans off eBay last summer after being inspired by watching re-runs of old Friends episodes. Rachel, Monica and Phoebe are wearing, in the early episodes, exactly what is in fashion now including jeans like these, check and crop shirts, loose tops, and lots and lots of denim.

Denim

As you can see, I am obsessed with denim. It is such a versatile material and goes with everything – except for maybe itself. Although it was done in the 90s and some think they can pull it off now, I cannot say that I am a fan of double denim. Denim was certainly big in the 90s and its popularity in recent years I welcome with open arms.

Doc Martens

Doc Martens were the shoe of choice in the 90s if you were a teenager listening to grunge. They were also the shoe of choice for a certain 6 year old; me. I was so in love with my pair of red patent Docs that I had a few pairs of them over my childhood! This winter my love for Doc Martens was revived and I bought some lookalike cheap ones from Topshop. But I am definitely going to be investing in either black patent or maroon DMs for next winter!

Platforms

Flatforms - Superga

Platforms, flatforms, creepers; whatever you want to call them they were a massive 90s trademark and who were their pioneers, the great Spice Girls. Now, they're back and everyone is loving it.

Accessories

This is slightly a strange mix of essential 90s accessories but it can be random which trends make a come back. Scrunchies have been available in some of the high street shops for about a year now and I have seen these tattoo style bracelets on some people last time I was in London. Both are cute and quirky additions to outfits.

What I really love about the 90s throwback is how a top end designer like Chanel has got involved. My friend Gina, who describes herself as a “total Chanel devotee”, recently tried out Chanel’s new coloured mascaras...

...and gave me her thoughts:

“Originally I thought it would be unwearable, but now that summer is finally here, adding a little bit of light blue to your lower lashes instantly brightens the eyes. Definitely a fun addition to your make-up bag, and a great way to refresh your make-up for the summer!”

Although I haven’t tried Chanel’s mascaras yet, I completely agree. Adding a bit of colour to your eyes is a great look for festivals and summer parties.

What do you think of the 90s revival trend? 

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Izzie x

Note: Some images found from Google. All others copyright Isabelle Hardy and Gina Stewart