PARIS – Dries Van Noten – global chic
Dries Van Noten returned to foreign soil for inspiration for S/S 2010. One stop in India, another in Japan, followed by a final landing in Paris to wrap it all together and give his return to ethnic influences a touch of Parisian chic. The rich jeweled colors in shantung silks, ikat prints, miao prints, embroidered silks were embellished lightly with stones and beads. Mr. Van Noten revisited his well known ethnic aesthetic but with a lean towards 1930’s Paris.
Sensually wrapped sari dresses and skirts with tails made well known their origins, but looked modern and right if worn in any city around the world. Dries Van Noten’s always capably mixes the richest of colors and prints with his very adept hand.
all photos – DChen
He thoughtfully paired some of his boldest pieces with a simple khaki pant to give his collection every day relevance. The clothes are very present but never over the top. Always strong but never too much. True global chic……………
photos-DChen
John Galliano haunted the closets of some of the brightest film stars from the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s for his S/S 2010 collection show. Out marched the ghosts of Hollywood past in all their glamour. Bias satin, chiffon, tulle and jersey dresses and gowns floated alongside signature Galliano sportswear pieces like a khaki eyelet cotton balmacaan, a flirty trench skirt and a souped up military jacket.
As previously reported, these femmes fatales looks were eerily projected down the runway by a red laser light as large bubbles floated from the ceiling and burst into puffs of smoke when the alighted on the ground or the clothes themselves. A true spectacle. Smoke, red lasers, bubbles…… but no one takes a bow like John Galliano, himself. His bow is usually a show in itself….
photos- DChen
The last word about Mr. Galliano’s show….. other than the fact it poured rain and the roof of the Halle Freyssinet was leaking on certain distinguished members of the fashion elite and that a certain one of these lesser elite was nearly shoved out of the way so hard that he nearly fell on his face while exiting the show by Prince’s bodyguards while clearing a path for his purple highness who was actually clad all in red that night. A mention must be made of the incredible sculptures with pearl heels the models catapulted themselves down the runway on…. outrageously beautiful and not one model seemed to have a problem walking in these concoctions! 
What more is there left to say?
