#PFW TODAY: Givenchy, McQueen, Hermes and more

GIVENCHY

It's crazy to think that only a few hours after attending the Givenchy show, Kim Kardashian was the theft, which reportedly lost her £8.5 million worth of jewellery. Very scary.

 

Anyway, this story doesn't have much relevance to the latest Ricardo Tisci collection for Givenchy. With Kim, Courtney Love, Natalia Vodianova, Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik all sitting front row, there certainly wasn't any shortage of celebrities. As for the collection itself, it was darkly glamorous, with a strong emphasis on crystallised rocks - you'll need to see the photos to understand. I loved the way models walked with their hair slicked in a side parting across the forehead with a steady glare at the throng of cameras at the end of the catwalk. Black was paired with hot pinks, soft beiges and even flashes of yellow. Huge necklaces with rocks hanging from them looked amazing with form fitting dresses which came stripy and slightly robbed at gun point at her Paris house. The reality tv star escaped unharmed but badly shaken from a symmetric. Another fantastic show from Ricardo Tisci who just can't stop getting better.

HERMES

Beige and green seemed to be Hermes' colours for next season, with a minimal, simplistic collection...

 

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

Sarah Burton has shown us once again how much she loves historical costumes, particularly the Tudor period. She sent out tough, all black leather looks alongside romantic basque style dresses in layers of chiffon and floral patterns. Her model line up as well as the hair/make up continued to tie into the gender neutral themes that have been such a talking point this year. A strong yet beautiful show.

 

GIAMBATTISTA VALLI

Black and white, floral dresses, skinny black trousers and a penchant for sheer materials; for spring/summer 2017 Giambattista Valli was stylish but with a sexy edge. Gigi Hadid strode down the catwalk in little more than a black bra and high waist shorts, while bralets were worn over silk dresses or underneath little jackets, bearing the midriff. 

STELLA MCCARTNEY

I'm not a huge fan of Stella McCartney, but there were pieces in this collection which I rather liked. Take the khaki dress with balloon sleeves or the beige tops and trousers which were paired with pristine white. Shapes were slouchy but showed off the waist while trousers came gathered and loose.

Givenchy, Hermes, Saint Laurent and more today at PFW

Saint Laurent

Oh what a show by Hedi Slimane. Many described this fall 2016 collection as Saint Laurent haute couture, with the bold shoulders, high level of detail and pure 80s references shining through in what was a very glamorous show. From the dramatic eye make up to the super mini skirts, OTT shoulder pads and splashes of sequins, Slimane pulled together pieces from his past Saint Laurent collections and referenced the brand circa the 1980s. This collection was immense and different, with models posing for photos on a large staircase rather than at the end of a catwalk. If this was Hedi's last offering for Saint Laurent, what a show it was.

Sonia Rykiel
There was so much in this Sonia Rykiel collection which caught my eye. I have to admit, everything was very much to my tastes and I can imagine to the tastes of numerous Sonia fans too. First of all, the fur was amazing whether it was on large collars, sleeves, pockets or even an oversized furry hat. Pretty 70s tea dresses were paired with patent leather boots, layering was used under jackets and silk shirts tied with a pussy bow at the neckline were extremely stylish. I loved the burgundy colours as well as the soft buttery yellow and snakeskin. They even had model of the moment Gigi Hadid closing the show, as well as veteran model Arizona Muse making an appearance.

Hermes
Fluid lines, the classic midi skirt, neutral tones and minimal tailoring all led the way this evening at Hermes. With such a cult following, Hermes have once again kept many of their eager clients happy, with a collection which looked and felt luxurious in every way. Camel pleat dresses opened the show along with structured white blazers and matching cigarette pants following. Burgundy, khaki and navy blue were used, but in such a subtle way that it felt effortless. I loved the shiny leather boots which came in a variety of colours as well as the high roll neck dresses which were form fitting and elegant.

Giambattista Valli
When it comes to pretty, look no further than Valli. This designer brand have girly, beautiful dresses fully covered, and their fall 2016 show was packed full of feminine, lady like creations. I loved the high neck floral chokers which gave way to flowing white silk skirts, gathered in at the waist as well as the almost knee high black strap court shoes. Ruffles and frills looked like they're here to stay another season, with Valli featuring the details on skirts and sleeves, while the wonderful red dress near the end of the show was covered in carefully cut little frills.

Givenchy
I forgot to feature Givenchy's show on yesterdays blog post, as it was Mothers Day and I was unfortunately pre-occupied with various other things. But what a show it was! With Kanye West, Kris Jenner, Bradley Cooper and Ciara all sitting front row, this show was heavily inspired by the ancient Egyptians and their rich colours. Gold art deco-esque dresses looked amazing as did all the gorgeous leopard print and fur stoles. There was pattern and print everywhere you looked, from the long coats and cropped jackets to the snakeskin boots and sweeping mini dresses. Ricardo Tisci has been at Givenchy for over 10 years now, and the shows he produces keep getting more varied and intriguing. You'll never know what he will do next, as he is a fashion deign genius and I am a huge fan.

Stella McCartney
I think its safe to say that the puffa jacket is a thing for autumn/winter 2016. We have seen a number of designers feature this functional coat during Paris Fashion Week, (check out the Balenciaga show) and now McCartney has firmly confirmed that trend by featuring a number in her collection. Whether they were cropped or long, the puffa was included in glorious shades. Other pieces included satin black trousers, lots of tie-dye denim, slouchy knitwear and sexy slip dresses, adding to the lingerie trend of this season. Not one of my favourite Stella McCartney shows, but nevertheless enjoyable.

PFW: Including Stella McCartney, Hermes, Sacai & Saint Laurent

Saint Laurent
Hedi Slimane loves his rock chick. For Saint Laurent, he left off from last season and presented us with a rock and roll girl, complete with tiger print coats, fur jackets, muddy wellington boots (Glastonbury anyone?) and lots of mini silver metallic dresses. There was a fun touch with all the models wearing little tiaras on their heads, while the slinky black dresses at the end of the collection were jaw droppingly amazing. It was nice to see some evening-wear from Slimane who tends to focus more on day outfits, and lots of barely there little dresses. A fun collection, which was also dark and sexy, with a Rolling Stones influence.

Stella McCartney
I absolutely loved this Stella McCartney show. Shown first thing yesterday morning at PFW, it kicked off the day with a bang with a youthful, yet very stylish feel. Gingham dresses in red and yellow opened the collection, which then gave way to fringed dresses which looked very futuristic and super cool. As the models walked down the runway, the small knife pleats moved beautifully and the soft pairing of colours, such as lemon yellow, navy blue and pillar box red created lovely combinations. There were also pastel coloured suits paired with amazing sunglasses, and of course, Stella's famous net, cut out dresses at the end of the show. Some came off the shoulder while others bared cheeky glimpses of flesh. An amazing show.

Hermes
With all the fun, crazy shows shown today at PFW, Hermes almost feels to be left behind with their minimal, sculptural designs. But this is a fashion house which just screams luxury, and has no problem doing what they do best without all the gimmicks that go with it. White skirts came to midi length with coloured lines along the hems, beige suits and leather dresses were effortless and beautifully tailored to perfection. There were pops of colour in bright orange and cobalt blue, but if anything this was for Hermes' minimal clients who prefer to let the clean lines and sharp cuts of the clothes do the talking. Fluid, soft and elegant.

Sonia Rykiel
I was drawn to this collection mainly because of the make up. The dark eyes, which were soaked in metallic eye shadow were mysterious, pale lips added drama and the amazing sculpted cheek bones really stood out against the hair which was pulled back away from the face with a severe middle parting. As for the clothes, Sonia went for glamour with fringed mini dresses, plunging necklines, bright, bold colours and super trendy military jackets complete with buttons and belt. The shapes of the clothes were feminine with the waist accentuated with tight maxi dresses and peplum style tops. Even the strappy sandals were glam, and the fur stoles which were carried casually by the models.

Sacai
Not only was there an amazing roll call of models, but this show was daring, stylish, maximal and full of colour. There were strong oriental themes running throughout, with kimono style prints, gold brocade, layers of silk on patterned shirts and high necklines. But it was also fun, with sheer black t-shirts, neck scarves which were wrapped loosely around the neck and colour strewn onto flowing midi skirts.

Giambattista Valli
Valli really is the go-to designer for preppy, stylish, sophisticated dressing. It is an old fashion house seeped in history, but now has a very modern core and appeals to the chic girls of Paris and beyond. For spring/summer 2016 there were a-line mini skirts, similar to those that Nicholas Ghesquiere did at Louis Vuitton last season, buttoned up white coats, jazzy bolero jackets covered in jewels and heeled gladiator sandals which came in white and black. Models walked with flowing, blow dried hair, working fun mini dresses, printed blouses and Victorian-esque necklines.

A Peek inside Hermes' Wanderland...

The new exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery by the French fashion label Hermes, is truly a 'wonder' to behold. With an emphasis on the luxury accessories Hermes is famous for, this new art installation is different and unique. With its strong lighting, bold features and tasteful selection of Hermes pieces, this exhibition is worth a visit if you happen to be in the Sloane Square area.

 I went to visit the exhibition one sunny afternoon, (it's free by the way!) after hearing rave reviews of its modern interior. And I was not disappointed. You walk into the first room and all you see is light, as though you are walking into a set from Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ You then walk through a maze of rooms all dedicated to various Hermes pieces, such as their vintage walking sticks favoured by gentleman at the turn of the 20th century, beautiful pocket watches made of silver and of course, their iconic handbags - the Birkin and the Kelly. There are other fashion pieces too, such as their scarves and accessories, but the real emphasis is on the craftsmanship and beauty of Hermes, which is perhaps the most expensive and respected fashion houses in the world. There are even cutlery and plates specially designed on display as well as their links to the equestrian spirit and leather goods Hermes have always been associated with. Either way, you understand that this is a luxury brand, how could you not with such wonderful craftsmanship?

I also loved the installations and the sets of the exhibition, created by famed designer Hubert le Gall. It is as though you are walking through the dainty streets of Paris, with a brassiere, decorated shop windows and modern graffiti ending with bright pops of colour everywhere, perhaps highlighting the place Hermes has within the youth culture of today. I especially loved the exotic elephant holding various plates and tea cups; cute yet elegant at the same time.

Overall, I wouldn't say this is the greatest fashion exhibition I've ever seen but it is something different and its quite fun. Hermes have shown that they don’t take themselves too seriously and are happy to show off their famous pieces in a humorous and witty style.