Paco Rabanne’s Le 69 accessories on display at the Crillon

As we neared the end of the Prêt-à-Porter, fashion fatigue began setting in. Luckily, Paco Rabanne was showing its Le 69 accessories collection at the Hôtel de Crillon, so I didn’t have far to go. And as soon as I started looking at the new designs, my energy came back in a flash. What can I say? Fashion turns me on. Suddenly, I felt like a kid in a candy store again.

Susan with Paco Rabanne’s designer, Judy Blame

Le 69 was a chain bag popularized by Brigitte Bardot more than 40 years ago (and revived last year by Rei Kawakubo and Comme des Garçons for London’s Dover Street Market). Now the line is in the hands of veteran designer and provocateur, Judy Blame–an eccentric, creative character with lots of ideas. He’s expanded the collection considerably–but my eye still went first to the original design, hung with chain-mail fringe and a shoulder strap. It perfectly mixes rock & roll with high glam, making me think, Wow, this is for me. It’s especially good for a night spent dancing– yes!

There was also a bracelet designed by Judy, similar to one I own (and wear constantly). It completely wrapped my wrist and forearm in metal, and had lots of dangling details. I thought it was an incredibly strong piece, and also very practical–its boldness guaranteed no need for more jewelry (although I wouldn’t have said no to some small diamond studs).

There were simpler versions of the metal bag, too, done with fur–in the same genre but without the same wow factor. I like wow, and am starting to feel the silver chain bag–along with that bracelet–are both real musts for me!

Photographs by Stephane Israël