PFW diary: Up close and personal at Chanel, Lanvin, Balenciaga, and Yves Saint Laurent

Date October 5, 2011

Sculpted bags that mimic pearly seashells at Chanel; a cross-sectional view of a jacket’s shoulder pads at Lanvin; treated silk so slick you’d swear it was leather at Balenciaga; and intricately embroidered ruffles at Yves Saint Laurent. When it comes to decadent details in a collection these French heavyweight houses win hands down.

Nestled in among the chic elite (Jared Leto notwithstanding) at Chanel’s Spring 2012 show, I had a prime perch to spot Karl’s latest couture-worthy creations: collarless jackets with woven sportif accents, the oh-so-thin leather zigzags splashed across short-sleeved dresses, a perfectly pretty/tattered chiffon skirt in ballerina pink, voluminous sleeves and panniers designed to look like seaweed, and lace so delicate it resembled paper. And let’s not forget Florence Welch, who sang from inside a giant oyster. Following this exquisite show at the Grand Palais it was time to put Operation Re-see into effect. The showrooms on my hit list? Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga. (Could there be any sweeter words? Well, maybe just one: FREE.) This trifecta of cool did not disappoint in the Oh, Mon Dieu! department. Here’s a recap for all of you who—like me, Alber, Stefano, and Nicholas—love to get up close and personal.

Lanvin
-The jewel-encrusted snake embellishment that slithered around dresses.
-The snakeskin-print fabric: Posh by day, predator by night.
-The Vatican-sized, bejewelled cross pendants.

Yves Saint Laurent
-The pink sleeveless vest with a ruffled peplum: A new twist on a trend we’ve been seeing all week in Paris.
-The coloured suede stacked heels with shiny metal plates: The most polished way to mix tough ’n’ tender elements.
-The fairy-dusted gowns: These glittering stars of the collection have “red carpet” written all over them. Keep your eyes peeled come awards season.

Balenciaga
-The rack of jewel-tone sculpted jackets: This is fabric technology and technique at its best.
-The busy and bright hand-painted print tops
-The whole Spring 2012 footwear collection. Think of these otherworldly works of art as chic coffee-table books. Display for party guests; they will be pleased to drool over them as you finish prepping the canapés.