 job done. Factor in 29 degree heat over the weekend, the off the charts blood pressure of drivers held up for an hour or more in gridlock while crowds spill off pavements taking pictures of one another, blocked entrances and exits and armed police whose ineffectualness seems to be in inverse ratio to their aggression – at some point someone's going to get hurt. It was a similar story at Hermès, which used to avoid the celebrity tactics of other houses. Once inside, all was a (semi) oasis of calm. The temporary planting of sea grasses and wildflowers must have rivalled Sir Elton's annual floristry bill, but it was lovely, even if the lack of air con (everywhere) meant the audience, including a very rested looking Martha Stewart, was in meltdown even before the show lights went up. Pity VIPs like Lily Allen, who were dressed in full Autumn looks (Allen's was a stone coloured leather Hermès jumpsuit, with copper-coloured hair). On the plus side, this was designer Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski's best show since she joined Hermès nine years ago. With a background at Celine, The Row and Martin Margiela, she always had the right credentials, but in this collection the stars – and Hermès' magnificent workshops – aligned to create the sleekest, most luxurious and youthful of Hermès clothes. Laser-cut leather apron dresses, stripy, leather-trimmed trench coats, cotton tailored jumpsuits and silky knit tube dre){kind=link}
Three of the biggest shows at Paris Fashion Week did not disappoint, with looks from the sublime to the downright confusing
Paris, we have a problem.
Unfortunately, when Baron Haussmann oversaw the redevelopment of the city in the 19th century, he didn’t foresee the contingencies of the 2023 fashion show. Consequently there are still many picturesque narrow streets with not nearly enough space for the ever larger and often near hysterical crowds that now gather outside the shows.
Every brand it seems, now wants its Pharrell Moment (Pharell Williams’s first show as Creative Director for Louis Vuitton in June on the Pont Neuf brought the centre of town and the internet to a standstill. (Publicity) job done.
Factor in 29 degree heat over the weekend, the off the charts blood pressure of drivers held up for an hour or more in gridlock while crowds spill off pavements taking pictures of one another, blocked entrances and exits and armed police whose ineffectualness seems to be in inverse ratio to their aggression – at some point someone’s going to get hurt.