Paris: Fashion rebel and designer Hedi Slimane returned to Paris Fashion Week to present his sophomore women swear show F for storied brand Celine that rifled on the 70s. The sky was the limit for the 15 minute display, staged in a purpose built Japanese style building branded “CELINE” by the glimmering monument, Les Invalides.
This season, there was no Lady Gaga. But the Celine show produced flashing lights of its own as a huge glass atrium with bright panels that seemed to hover through the air, was lowered slowly to the runway.
A model who had been trapped “frozen” inside, wearing a 70’s silk scarf, suddenly came to life and strutted out to begin the show. The love-him-or-hate-him designer changed tack on Friday from his stomping, messy, 80’s styles of last season.
In its place, a more bourgeois and sophisticated — indeed, more Celine — side to Slimane was revealed. The style dial was turned firmly to the 70’s. Silk jabot collars met pleated check culottes, sumptuous thigh high tan boots with fur fringe, ponchos, capes, dazzling gold jackets and pimp-style fur coats.
Garments were beautifully finessed, like the slightly crumpled-yet-luxuriant look of the ubiquitous leather boots. It nicely captured the spirit of the house that was founded in 1945 and has become synonymous with a relaxed luxury style that is not hard to try. The main downside was that the collection, at times, seemed to lack a little punch.
