Grace Jones with the V&R designers, Balmain, Manish Arora and Nina Ricci. photos: WireImage, Getty Images, AFP/Getty Images,
It may only be day two of the Paris shows, but we've already seen some explosive fashion moments, namely at Balenciaga and Balmain. Here are some of the highlights...
Fragrance Fête: Viktor & Rolf celebrated the fifth anniversary of their Flowerbomb fragrance at Le Meurice with a giant Flowerbomb-shaped cake, mini Flowerbomb-shaped canapés, guests like Lou Doillon and Leigh Lezark and a stellar performance by Grace Jones, who showed off her mile-long legs in a body suit (with amazingly exaggerated shoulders) and wore a black masquerade mask.
Modern Versailles: Balmain's Christophe Decarnin brought the Court of Versailles to modern-day Paris with his rock 'n' roll take on opulence, complete with his signature dose of sex appeal. As Prince hits blasted from the speakers, models went down the runway in gold leather, sequins, brocade and lamé dresses and rocker pantsuits à la Tom Ford in the Gucci days.
Fluoro Hair: One of our favourite beauty looks at PFW so far has been at Manish Arora's show, where colour exploded not only from the beaded and embellished dresses (and the multi-coloured, patterned leggings) the designer sent down the runway, but also from the cartoonish, neon Louise Brooks-esque bobs models sported in hues of yellow, turquoise, green and royal blue, which complemented fluorescent green and orange lids.
To the Nunnery: Rick Owens referred to his models this season as "glamorous nuns," and while they didn't look convent-bound with their zigzagged tights, thick black flicked liner, asymmetric outfits and fur pelts, they did look fearless, tough and ready to face anything that might stand in their way.
Extraordinary things: Nicolas Ghesquière delivered a collection for Balenciaga that paid tribute to the French fashion house but also pushed it firmly into the future - appropriate that his set was inspired by Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Using stiff, padded fabrics which he melded with cashmere and silk, his initial looks were square and boxy, while fabulous knitwear (in both cut and colour, followed). Muse and friend Charlotte Gainsbourg sat front row, and we can easily imagine her in the grey knitted sweater and green mini skirt Miranda Kerr wore in the show. Also, there was a notable absence from the front row: Carine Roitfeld and other French Vogue-ettes. She told WWD they're blacklisted from the show, but declined to say why. Quelle horreur!
New Nina: Peter Copping presented his first on-schedule runway show for Nina Ricci yesterday (even though he's been at the label since spring) and the selection of pretty, satin, knee-length dresses with feminine touches (rosettes, lace, polka dots) will surely be a hit with girly girls this autumn.