PFW DAY IIII/RECAP

The fourth day of Paris Fashion Week saw amongst others the fifteenth anniversary show of A.F. Vandevorst. Here are some of the highlights.

Sleek and summery, Chalayan’s spring show was all about airy shapes and artistic details. Layered, slit, panelled, and draped, the silhouettes were all light and fresh, enhanced by the sheer organza and fluid silk. Brightly coloured scales, bold stripes and blurred abstract prints gave the show a playful edge, while the sleek and sober evening dresses added to the sophisticated sobriety. Wide-brimmed transparent sun hats, either worn on the head or stuck onto wooden sticks, added the finishing touch.

Eclectic and evocative, Maison Martin Margiela’s spring show was a mix of sharply tailored masculine cuts and richly embellished knick-knacks. A pink sequined bustier matched with under a well-cut black topcoat, a sheer chiffon top layered over a sleeveless pinstripe suit jacket, and a mannish beige trench coat was worn over an exquisitely beaded multicoloured top. Cutaway shoulders, cropped tops, and loose sleeves added to the deconstructed silhouettes that are characteristic for Margiela’s design.

To celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of their label A.F. Vandevorst, An Vandevorst and Filip Arickx took a trip down memory lane, reworking looks from their archives. The silhouettes were all layered, wrapped, or draped, embellished with studs, knots, fringes, and heavy metallic necklaces. Long hooded caftans, gleaming scarves, and intriguing golden headdresses gave the collection an air of oriental mystique, enhanced by the dusts of sand that were sprinkled over the model’s outfits and hairdos.

Photos courtesy of Style.com

By Sonja Nettelbladt