Balmain
His upcoming collaboration with H&M made him comb his own Balmain archives, reminding him of the wealth of material that was “the result of four years of hard work,” - he said. Four years is a long time in his industry and as a result he deemed it time to introduce new ideas for spring and to broaden the Balmain DNA. Today that most prominently manifested in tiered ruffles they cascaded on trousers, along sleeves, and bib-fronts adding a romantic femininity to the fierce sex appeal of the whip-stitching, fishnets and strong shoulders also out in force. This new found softness also rippled through via a pretty pastel palette – the nude tones, like the new silhouettes, all served to temper Balmain’s customary opulence.
His finale was in homage to the grunge slip dress, which first appeared in Slimane’s 2013 collection. Out they trudged in floor-trailing bias cuts, each one a tweaked version of the other; some with slits and spaghetti straps, others with fluttery off-the-shoulder sleeves, all mostly backless. Upon exit this evening, naysayers were having none of it, as several commented: “Same old; same old...” But this doesn't matter to the Saint Laurent girl, and really, that’s all that counts.
The installment of a new creative director can go one of two ways - it's either about revolution or evolution: that's what Peter Dundas did at Roberto Cavalli today as he finally made his debut after it was announced back in March this year.
Donatella Versace celebrates women, of that there is no doubt - and tonight she was gathering her army and calling them into action. "This is a collection for the way women live their lives today, mixing tailoring with sportswear and effortless glamour," summed up Versace.
