A few years ago, while at Harrods in London, I noticed a beautiful handbag on the main floor. Its creator was Lina Hamed for Analeena, and I tucked the name away for future reference. Soon after, during the Prêt-à-Porter, I met Lina at the Hôtel George V to see her full collection–and I was bowled over! Since then, she’s been a regular stop for me during the Paris shows.
This season, I also met Lina’s sister, Amalie, who was helping to show the bag collection. I noticed a fabulous ring on Amalie’s finger–and since I’m such a jewelry fanatic, I had to ask what it was. Turns out, she’d designed it herself, and put it together using raw diamond slices (essentially, pieces that might be tossed out), which she’d shaved down even further. These stones have a subtle, glimmering appearance, not so shiny as to blind you, just understatedly chic. Now I’m obsessed: I have to have one! For the moment, Amalie makes each piece to order, but I can see great things ahead for her!
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Join Susan in the cavernous Halle Freyssinet, gorgeously decorated for this one night with gilt candelabras, cakes and party favors in celebration of Alber Elbaz‘s 10th anniversary as artistic director for the house of Lanvin. Then enjoy another Parisian institution, the charming Sonia Rykiel show, now directed by Nathalie Rykiel (Sonia’s daughter) but still imbued with that certain je ne sais quoi that seems to make French girls so very, very chic!
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I met Andrew Gn several years ago and ended up visiting him in his atelier, where we had a lovely chat and walked through his most recent collection. I remember buying an unusual coat from him, made of brown velour with a rather Victorian collar–and that laced-up, almost Gothic, sensibility seemed to be his theme again for Fall 2012 (with sexy, modern twists, of course). As I watched the défilé, it also became obvious that Andrew is a master when it comes to coats: this collection featured them in all shapes, sizes and lengths.
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Last season was my first time seeing the colorful work of the Indian designer Manish Arora –and that show was so much fun, and so creative, I was really looking forward to seeing his Fall collection during the Prêt-à-Porter.
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Manish Arora designs under his own name, for his own label, but he’s also the creative director for the house of Paco Rabanne. Of course, it’s always challenging for a new designer to take the helm at such a well-known brand, especially one so deeply-rooted in its own sense of history (and of heritage).
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The Prêt-à-Porter is a busy time, especially for designers, so I felt lucky to schedule a studio visit with Bill Gaytten, creative director at John Galliano, for a preview of Fall 2012. His atelier is amazing–a soaring space, housed in a former doll factory in the 20th arrondissement. And I was thrilled to have the opportunity to see his collection a day before it came down the runway. I wish I could do this all the time–it’s the perfect way to get double exposure.
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Time flies, and it’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since Alber Elbaz began his work as artistic director for the house of Lanvin. I’m a longtime fan: I started buying Lanvin clothes and accessories at the very beginning of Alber’s association with the brand, so now I have a beautiful wardrobe of perfect items I’ve collected over time, begging to be worn again and again.
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I’ve passed the Léonard boutique on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré countless times, and always admired the bold, Pucci-esque prints showcased in its windows. The styling was classic–perhaps overly so–but these were clothes I could make my own: easy to wear and to pack, and always reliable.
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I often think about interviewing Catherine Baba, a true personage on the Paris fashion scene and someone I’ve long admired for her extraordinary personal style. (She tends to favor turbans, combined with unusual vintage clothes and accessories, so she really stands out!) Through years of attending fashion events in Paris, I’ve gotten to know Catherine, and I now realize it’s not just her ensembles that are so unique–it’s her entire persona. She has a way of speaking (often in the third person) that’s very distinctive: she greets me with Devotion instead of Hello; she often exclaims J’adore; and when she says dahhling, it’s not prentious, it’s just Catherine! During the most recent Prêt-à-Porter, I bumped into her at the Zandra Rhodes show, and she promptly invited me to a launch party celebrating her collaboration with the legendary Parisian costume jewelry house, Gripoix. It was to be held at Lapérouse–the hotspot of the moment–and of course I made plans to attend.
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In this video, Susan offers a rare, insider’s look at the Fall ‘12 John Galliano collection, thanks to a studio preview of the show’s highlights conducted by Bill Gaytten, the label’s creative director. Hear him discuss the collection’s equestrian theme while pointing out specific details on key garments, then watch those same pieces come down the runway (worn by some of the most beautiful models in the world). It’s a special opportunity, not to be missed!
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