VogueNippon.talk and VOGUEette blogger Amilus Chou in Viktor & Rolf dress
Bloggers have become the darlings of the fashion scene. Not only are they blogging about fashion, but they are looking chic while they're doing it. 2011 was the break out year for the street scene. And now bloggers are establishing their own fashion identities while capturing some of the chicest looks on the street. While covering runway shows in Paris, I took a moment to capture some of the sharp shooters on the front lines of Paris Fashion Week.
While in Paris for Fashion Week, we went to an uber-cool house dance party at Maxims. DJ's mixed, the crowd danced and the electronic music didn't stop. Here is a mix I just discovered by one of my favorite acts of the night. Lazare Hoche's Charlie Naffah and Alexandre Sadoun. More tracks on Soundcloud here.
One of the most inspiring collections I saw on the runway in Paris was without a doubt, Pam Hogg. The British rock star designer turned on her mega-watt punk style at Paris Fashion Week. It's easy to see why the hard core fashion set including Vivienne Westwood, Ellen Von Unwerth and Diane Pernet graced the designer's front row. Hogg's avante garde rock n' roll style is everything you might hope to see on the Paris runway - theatric, edgy and chic - all rolled into one. And did I mention French? For her first time showing in Paris, Hogg said she wanted to pay homage to all things Parisian. Napoleon Bonaparte, Marie Antoinette and the Hunchback of Notre Dame are just a few of the iconic - not to mention tragic - French figures that inspired her. Think military-style trench coats, enormourous feather headdresses, hunchback shapes and form-fitting body suits that left little to the imagination. Ah, a Brit in Paris.
“Le Carrousel, the circular dance of fashion. This season at Louis Vuitton the circle has turned once more and arrived at a place of pure enjoyment, gentleness, joie de vivre and love. But this is a particular enjoyment and love: the joy of Parisian fashion.”
- Louis Vuitton program
How apropo to be in Paris this season and be invited to attend the Louis Vuitton show. Truly it was an honor to receive the invitation and take part in sharing the message of the brand. We each seemed to have a singular goal in mind - to celebrate Parisian fashion. And what a joy it was. A magical carousel, a whimsical fairytale with girls in fabulously feminine clothes - a vision of delicacy in beautiful lace, icy pastels, transparent flowers and and feather trimmed loveliness – and then there was Kate Moss on the runway (exclamation point!). All of this Parisian splendor harkened from a history of fine craftsmanship. And to top it off Louis Vuitton, one of the most prestigious luxury brands in the world, is also on the forefront of fashion and technology. I find it so compelling that Louis Vuitton, like Burberry, is leading the charge into the future and the digital world. Think of its recent “The Art of Travel by Louis Vuitton” campaign. For the Spring 2012 show, it created a complete digital experience to give fans an inside look at Louis Vuitton and Parisian fashion.
“The romance of Parisian fashion is a joy in the emotional exchange between the craftsman and wearer. Fashion is a spectacle, but this is an intimate relationship as well; it is not just about the joy of looking but the joy of feeling,” explained the show program. Clothes can be enjoyed because of their beauty, but the pleasure of luxury is also in knowing the craftsmanship of the garment and its exquisite design by a Parisian atelier. Case in point: the “Coquilee D’Oeuf” minaudiere, the collections’ piece de résistance. The evening bag, which took over 300 hours and 12,500 pieces of “mosaicked” eggshells to make, sums up the extreme delicacy and emotional exchange in the crafting the collection.
Just as the clothes can be appreciated from the inside out, so too can the runway show and the brand's message - by understanding what goes on behind-the-scenes. To give fans an inside look this season Louis Vuitton live-streamed the show and created a series of videos about the brand, the runway show and Paris itself. “Social media is very interesting and brings opposite personalities together,” said Kamel Ouadi, global digital director at Louis Vuitton, Paris. “There’s this idea of openness and of community [that] lets consumers connect and share…. [Social media] emphasizes the emotional aspects of a luxury industry [that] is sometimes perceived as arrogant and distant,” he said. Not only was the show was broadcast live via iPhone and iPad and on the Louis Vuitton Facebook Page, but a mini-site dedicated to the show was also launched. Fans could tune it to find out how the beautiful carousel and runway show was created and watch the building of the show tent. And designer Marc Jacobs created exclusive videos to discuss his vision of the Louis Vuitton Woman, the creative process involved in building a collection and putting on a Louis Vuitton fashion show.
In celebration of all things Parisian and chic, Louis Vuitton called on an influential five to share their multi-faceted views of Paris Fashion Week. Emmanuelle Alt (editor in chief of Vogue Paris), Derek Blasberg (fashion journalist), Jean-Philippe Delhomme (artist/illustrator), Camille Bidault-Waddington (stylist), Magda Danysz (art dealer) and Emily Weiss (blogger – Into the gloss) share their personal Fashion Week experiences at fashionshow.louisvuitton.com. Each of these trendsetters share their favorite Parisian hotspots using Amble, Louis Vuitton’s first iPhone Application. It builds on the brand's "The Art of Travel" initiative and takes travel to the next level. On the website and using Amble itself, fans can follow their favorite personalities on a stroll through Paris, record travel memories, visit a celebrity's local hot spot and find inspiration for their next trip. A virtual dream for any fashionista wanting to learn more about some of the chicest cities in the world. Also to be noted, Louis Vuitton just launched its City Guides book series on Oct. 15 (see photo below). Louis Vuitton Perspectives will continue to be updated with more exclusive content from contributors, as well as special behind-the-scenes coverage from the fashion show.
Louis Vuitton City Guides
“The merry-go-round of Parisian fashion might continue to turn, but its love affair with and ultimate commitment to craftsmanship remains timeless. Once more…with feeling.”
If you need an indication that fashion is taking a feminine turn, take a look at Anna Dello Russo bedecked in bows at Paris Fashion Week. Lace, sequins and some serious shades required.
It was the color du jour on the streets during Paris Fashion Week. From chic vintage dresses to handbags and ruffled tops, the sunny hue made a bright statement. Here are a few snaps of those who wore it best.
Hervé Domar was one of my happy discoveries in Paris. The jeweler, optician and perfumer, has a flair for making exquisite accessories and intoxicating aromas. I was drawn in by the intriguing potions that served as the brand's booth display at the Tranois trade show. And I was happy I stopped to take a look. Each of the Eaux de Parfums are heavenly and come with a black strass and tiny jewel in the bottle to denote the fragrance. My favorite? Tourmaline, the lovely lavender scent. I also discovered that Hervé Domar has recently added homewares to his ever-growing brand. The Parisian mainstay has seven scented candles and home fragrances. Candles are artisanly crafted yet modern and fragrances are made with the same techniques as the brand's Eaux de Parfum. Envisage perfumes that smell of lavender and patchouli flowers and home fragrances and candles that create an intoxicating ambiance of amber and incense, and verveine & limetree.
In a word, RODO. The Italian house has some seriously red carpet worthy heels and clutches that are undeniably chic. Here are a few of the glamorous looks I previewed in Paris. The luxury brand has been creating accessories for over 50 years. Colorful, graphic and glitzy, here are a few of my favorites.
Some of the chicest looks worn during Paris Fashion Week were colorful graphic patterns, polka dots and animal prints - especially snakeskin bags as the accessory du jour. While color blocking still made a statement, the update is much more sophisticated. Prints are layered, color palettes softened and textures add surface interest. Here are some of the best looks I spotted throughout the week.
