All the reactions we could suss out so far from Hedi Slimane’s first mini Saint Laurent Paris presentation

Photography by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images
Photography by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images

It should come as no surprise that Hedi Slimane’s much talked about collections for Saint Laurent Paris (his revamped moniker for the legendary Yves Saint Laurent) are being kept well under wraps as he prepares for their debut this fall. Fortunately for us, a handful of select retailers were invited to view his first designs for the fashion house in the showrooms of the Grand Palais in Paris, and they’ve shared some of their observations with WWD (anonymously, of course).

Overall, the collections (which include women’s resort, men’s Spring 2013 and accessories) are said to be very modernist, with strong references to the clean lines of the ‘80s. Colours range from neutrals like black, white or gray to saturated hues of fuchsia, red and Yves Klein blue. Pops of animal print and metallic fabric crop up in the women’s collection, and trademark Yves Saint Laurent silhouettes like tuxedos, cigarette pants and sharp tailoring are found throughout. All in all, the feedback has been wholeheartedly positive.

“It feels very YSL, but in a modern way,” one retailer told WWD. “Hedi has a vision. It’s so directional.”

To the frustration of the press, the fashion house is obviously doing good on their word of keeping the public in the dark about the collection until this fall: photographs of the designs were strictly forbidden, and no look books were provided for retailers.

This news, coupled with stamps of approval from both YSL muse Betty Cantroux and Pierre Bergé, Saint Laurent’s partner in both business and life, seem to indicate that Slimane is definitely headed on the right track for the famed French fashion house.

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