Paris notes: Structure and citrus at Stella McCartney, jumpsuits and peasant frills at YSL, and more [gallery]

STELLA MCCARTNEY Spring 2011. Photography by Peter Stigter

Paris hasn’t offered up much tailoring for spring ’11. But Stella McCartney built her business on the structured jacket and she isn’t about to abandon what she knows best. Showing amid the opulence of the Opera Garnier, McCartney delivered a collection that hit all the top trends and more. There were soft printed dresses with hip-high slits, a delicious citrus-print tunic and pants, and pastel suits with slim, cuffed trousers. The designer also offered her take on the hybrid skirt/pant, a full, fluid bottom that looks like a slit skirt from the front, and a palazzo pant from the back. McCartney, expectant with baby number three, bounded out to take her bow. She is her customer, a woman on the go.

Stefano Pilati might also be a man on the go–the rumour mill has him exiting Yves Saint Laurent any day now. His concise spring collection offered slim black jumpsuits, stiff peasant frills, backless shirts, and the sleeveless jacket that will be a must-have for spring.

Other highlights of the day: Pink chiffon, ostrich feathers and garden party prints at Giles Deacon’s flirty, ultrafeminine debut for Emanuel Ungaro; dancewear-inspired dresses at Chloé, leopard print mixed with solids at Giambattista Valli.

See a gallery of looks from Stella McCartney and Yves Saint Laurent shows»

Read our full coverage of the Spring 2011 collections»

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