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Posts Tagged ‘Paul’

Nearly every model on the runway at Paul & Joe was smiling—from “smizes” to the full monty with teeth. Was it the all-flats footwear? Or the fact that this was the second-to-last show of a grueling month? The explanation came from designer Sophie Albou. “I like smiley girls!” she exclaimed backstage. “I tell them all to smile.”


Those happy expressions were a perfect fit for these giddy-cute clothes. This looked unabashedly like a Spring/Summer collection, a thing of note at a moment in fashion when seasonlessness is the standard. Albou opened up shop recently in Los Angeles—her sole stand-alone U.S. outpost—and while her brand of bohemia is parisienne, these flippy printed minidresses, shrunken bombers, embroidered peasant blouses, and fluttery maxi skirts should do a brisk business on the West Coast.


On the verge of her 15th anniversary, Albou explained that she wanted to include everything she loves: color, freshness, and prints. The last gave her a point of difference in a crowded contemporary market that wasn’t anywhere near as cheek-by-jowl when she began. The kitten print here will give Albou cool-girl cachet, as will the nerdy prescription glasses, and that should stand her in good stead when she finally opens in New York—a plan that’s in the offing.


Albou explained that the huge orb at the opening of the runway was meant to be the sun. Kudos to her for bringing light and warmth to the end of a rainy week.
—Meenal Mistry View full post on Runway Feed

One season, Jean Paul Gaultier is channeling Captain Jack Sparrow; the next, he’s thinking about Aztec rulers. He loves a runway theme, but there were none to study at his low-key showroom presentation for pre-fall. What you noticed, instead, were the Gaultier-isms, all of which looked great: a satin wrap dress with an asymmetrical, bra strap-exposing neckline; the kilt trousers paired with a crisp double-breasted jacket; a high-drama aubergine trench dress with a slit up to there. And on the racks: cashmere marinière sweaters knit every which way and one sharp-looking coat after another. We weren’t surprised to hear that the collection is attracting renewed interest from retailers; this was Gaultier at his real-world best.
—Nicole Phelps View full post on Runway Feed