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For a woman of many moods
Designers pulled out the stops at Paris, presenting outfits fit for socialites, fashion victims and working mothers.
Paris designers pulled out the stops at the spring-summer ready-to-wear shows, presenting outfits fit for socialites, fashion victims and working mothers.
Valentino specialises in what could be called the Liz Hurley school of dressing, and he devoted the bulk of his collection to luxurious daywear for ladies-who-lunch. The humble parka was given a glamorous makeover, appearing in lime taffeta paired with floaty tiered chiffon skirts.
Stefano Pilati's debut as designer for Yves Saint Laurent was a largely polka-dotted affair, as the top houses wrapped up their Paris shows for the spring-summer 2005 ready-to-wear season. The Italian presented ruffled skirts, pleated fuschia suits, satiny or leafy dresses with bustles at the back.
Designer Marc Jacobs has cemented his stamp at Louis Vuitton, parading out denim handbags and matching short-shorts that featured the French luxury house's famed logo and other blasts from the past. "This collection has a lot of references to the 40s, the 50s, the 70s and 80s," Jacobs said. "Retro for me is a word, a label. But I see a lot of young women around me _ my friends, actresses, etc. _ wearing these clothes today. So it's not retro." Jacobs trotted out purple sequined or silver tinsel-style skirts, classy brocaded coats, lace tops and white dresses with bows offering Little Bo Peep innocence over pumps.
Handbags were, of course, on show: jewelled, embroidered, crocheted or with a cherry theme. Necklaces resembling xylophone keys splayed out along the collarbone were among other accessories. Solid blue overcoats were a more sober offering, but printed daisy flower designs on skirts coloured in fuschia or purple were more playful.
Reality met glamor at the Valentino show, where pearl belts and necklaces, puffy hydrangea forms and flirty satin dresses enthralled crowds lining the catwalk at the Carrousel du Louvre. Offerings included taffeta parkas in red and gray, pink angora cardigans and a white diagonal cotton jacket that covered a knitted tee-shirt with "Valentino" written all over it. Shimmery gold and beige skirts, wide bracelets and silk georgette dresses with ruffles injected a feeling of polish.
Guy Laroche went classical with solid colours or black-and-white stripes on dresses and bikinis. The Paris house also paraded out double-breasted pantsuits and gowns with folds, and snug skirts for the working woman, while a black V-neck dress with pockets was suited more for after-hours.
