Chanel took to the streets — almost. The spring/summer Chanel show took place in a venue so well designed that is was almost impossible not to mistake it for a real street. However, what happened on Boulevard Chanel was the real talk of a the town. The show ended with protest full of gorgeous models carrying signs and chanting, in somewhat of a feminist movement. The Chanel show was much more than just a protest though. It was a wonderfully diverse collection, but also a massive collection. Chanel boasted 87 original pieces. Everything from suits, to blouses, to gowns, to stripes, to capes, to knits, to prints, to pastels… The collection may have been huge, but no one even had time to get bored with it — there was simply so much going on.
Designers, Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, took the audience on a Grand Tour with the Valentino collection this season. Drawing largely from Italian inspirations, the collection was versatile and felt almost worldly. Although the pieces were designed to evoke something centuries old, each number managed to maintain somewhat of a modern flair. The collection was kept gracefully simple, while the high-tied gladiator sandals added a touch of ferocity to the femininity.
Valentin Yudashkin did not confine himself to a strict theme for this season’s collection. He simply drew upon the inspiration of his favorite flower: hydrangeas. The show began rather unexpectedly, with a minimalist approach of a simple white crop top and white flared skirt. However, the collection quickly expanded to something much more predictably Yudashkin. Out came sheer dresses, covered only with metallic flowers. And then the classic fairy tale gowns — that every girl sees in her dreams and could only have come from such a perfect french garden.
Alexander McQueen shocked us all this season. The pieces were interesting, sexy, and unique. The accessory choice of the cut-out face masks added a spin to the collection and made for an intense show. That aside, the collection gave off a strong Asian vibe that worked well the cuts and colors of the collection. Designer, Sarah Burton, kept the looks of the Japanese geisha and samurai in mind. The most interesting piece of the show was definitely the final number. Suddenly, the audience was hit with a strongly tribal beaded number that covered the model almost head to toe in a black and white aztec pattern.
