Column: Paris Fashion Week takes le gateau

New York. London. Milan. Paris. Each city adds flair to its own fashion week.

But if there was any question whether France was still the fashion capital of the world, there is no longer room for debate.

During the spring/summer 2013 Paris Fashion Week, new and old brands alike did not disappoint.

Three of fashion’s top powerhouses were nothing short of astounding.

Not to mention the show was in the Grand Palais. How glam.

First, take a look at the iconic brand that is Chanel.

The crème de la crème, Karl Lagerfeld, creates more elaborate sets for Chanel with each passing year.

This year, Lagerfeld created all-white, sky-scraping wind turbines the models had to weave through.

As if the giant, hula hoop-sized, signature Chanel bag wasn’t enough to impact viewers, the voluminous looks Lagerfeld pulled together were nothing short of covetous.

The collection characterized all of the classic Chanel tweed and quilted patterns while still suggesting a new creative twist.

Though, I am still terribly bitter about Hedi Slimane changing Yves Saint Laurent’s name to Saint Laurent Paris and moving his design studio to Los Angeles.

I will still give him credit for the dark, sweeping capes and low-brimmed hats that graced the runways.

Other than that, it was incredibly blasé.

Variation after variation of dark ensembles reflected an obvious Los Angeles influence.
 
The collection was exciting only because it was different than anything that had ever come from YSL.

But why would he alter the title of the almighty Yves Saint Laurent?

It still makes my teeth gnash and blood boil.

Thankfully, just the sight of Pierre Bergé — the partner of the great, late Yves Saint Laurent himself — attending the show after all these years is enough to reduce me to tears.

On another note, after Marc Jacobs received mass amounts of praise at New York Fashion Week for his innovative signature line, he was able to switch gears again for Louis Vuitton this week.

He played with checkerboard prints in a variety of gradients and textures.

Micro-mini to full-length maxi dresses dominated the majority of the collection and offered a fresh blast from the past.

The 1960s-inspired Louis Vuitton finale was awe-inspiring, to say the least.

Paired models descended upon the stage on rows of escalators. The entire audience gasped at the sight of the beautiful models approaching.

The avant-garde runway shows displayed that something big is happening in Paris.
Let’s hope it spreads to the States.

­— mwalschl@indiana.edu