SS13: PARIS POSTINGS

Posted by Bethan Holt, Fashion Junior at Large

Jeu de Paume, just outside Tuileries on the Place de la Concorde

I'm in Paris for a couple of days to check out the Spring/ Summer collections. You'll be hearing plenty about my trip in coming posts but as today is still busy, busy with appointments I thought I'd share a few snippets of what I saw yesterday....

LUXE SPORT ROBES AT ALESSANDRA RICH

I went to see Alessandra Rich's delightful SS13 collection, among the expected gorgeous full length, mightily embellished dresses were these robes, one for "Olga" and the other for "Irina". These are the imagined muses for the collection- 80s gymnasts who are sparkly and sporty simultaneously. A lucky few of Alessandra's special clients can get their own named robes. Genius

Gymnast Olga Kurbut competing at the Richfield Coliseum

NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD'S HOKUSAI SHOES

Kirkwood's SS13 offering will have shoe fans foaming at the mouth- there's every kind of wonder style a girl could need, from knee skimming snakeskin gladiator heels to jazzy low heeled pumps, as well as a perspex heel in every colour of the rainbow. One section of the collection is inspired by Hokusai's famous giant wave painting "The Great Wave of Kanagawa". 

EQUIPMENT'S 70S SHIRTS

Equipment is well loved for it's easy silky shirts. The brand began life in the 70s as brainchild of Carine Roitfeld's partner Christian Restoin. Serge Azria of Current/Elliot revived the label in 2010. This season, Equipment has acquired its own archives and so from now on we can expect revivals of original prints in each collection. These blue/white hearts and mossy florals are the first to make a reappearance.

 

 Original Equipment shirts

Image from terrysdiary.com

THE ULTIMATE NEW EASY

Posted by The Fashion Junior at Large 

One of the biggest trends which seems to be emerging from the SS12 shows is what we at FEAL like to call 'the new easy'. Essentially, this comprises beautifully cut basics in luxury fabrics which you can throw on to feel instantly glamourous and dressed up but also super comfy too. On Saturday, I viewed the new collections from silk shirt stalwarts Equipment and L.A girl about town label Joie (which counts Rachel Bilson, Blake Lively and Kate Bosworth among its fans) Both, in their own ways, have nailed this New Easy. At Joie, there are riviera stripes, jumpers perfect for throwing on over denim shorts on a Summer evening and pleated sundresses in lots of hot colours.

Joie

Joie- These two pieces make a perfect L.A kind of casual summer outfit

Meanwhile, Equipment offers something altogether more classic but still totally lustworthy- the Fash Ed could barely contain her excitement when I told her about their pyjamas for day which come in their own fabulous silk pouch. In my own Summer holiday fantasy, I would mix up the pyjama top and bottom options, throw on some heels and diamonds before hitting the bar for cocktails with Coco Chanel and Elizabeth Taylor.

A pyjama really does sum up this new easy and seems to me to be a very welcome off-shoot of the twenties and thirties references which are threading through many of the keys shows. One look at Greta Garbo or Joan Bennet in their easy, chic pyjama-y get-ups and any sane designer would see they had an instant woman pleasing hit on their hands.

Greta Garbo (Image from Rex Features)

Joan Bennet (image from hollywoodheyday.blogspot.com)

 A smattering from the catwalks:

From this morning's Stella McCartney show (image from guardian.co.uk)

Silky nightdress at Lanvin (from catwalking.com)

Sheer at Richard Nicoll (catwalking.com)

 Unless otherwise indicated, photos are by Fashion Junior at Large.