With the end of Paris Fashion Week last Wednesday, we also see the conclusion of Autumn/Winter 2014 fashion weeks. It has been a hectic few weeks, full of surprises, bold fashion statements, extravagant catwalks and lots of texture clashes.
Black lace also featured in the A/W 2014 collection of Nina Ricci. The use of lace in this collection really highlighted a key trend that we have witnessed at Paris as well as the fashion weeks from New York, London and Milan. Texture. So many designers presented pieces where soft materials were juxtaposed or layered directly with much harder textiles. In one look, Ricci teamed delicate lace sleeves with an empowering fitted velvet dress. In another, lace panels were adorned to a black leather dress. At NAVY, we love the juxtaposition of rugged leather with delicate lace. Always an ultra cool textile pairing.
So the madness of fashion week season is over. But we kind of miss it already!
Image sources: www.vogue.com
But what we saw at PFW was lace. Black lace at that. Looking at the catwalks of Spring/Summer 2014, we saw a lot of white and pastel toned lace. The likes of Erderm, Elie Saab, Balmain, Burberry and others presented this delicate material as key elements of their collections. So it appears we are seeing the transition of lace between the seasons and into Autumn/Winter with the use of a lace in a more gothic and grunged up form.
Again, Elie Saab presented a collection full of opulent sheer dresses but this time in sweeping black lace. Inspired by the work of Mark Rothko, Saab’s collection also featured stunning ombre full length gowns mixed in with feminine velvet dresses. The fact that Angelina Jolie wore a S/S 14 Elie Saab gown to the Oscars hints that these A/W creations will be a hit on the red carpets next season.
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| Elie Saab - Paris Fashion Week - Autumn Winter 2014/15 |
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| Nina Ricci - Paris Fashion Week - Autumn Winter 2014/15 |
PFW is a platform for chic creativity unlike any other fashion week. Chanel’s super cool hypermarket was big highlight of the week. The attention to detail was superb, creating an atmosphere and experience which those in attendance won’t forget quickly. (Especially those who managed to grab themselves a Chanel designed doormat or bottle of Chanel water as a momento!) But nobody can create an experience quite like Alexander McQueen. The etherial yet sinister forest scene put a chill in the air and helped to deliver a collection of full drama, romance and darkness. Again, texturing was a key element to this collection, full of wild furs, feathers and a fairytale innocence. Here we saw white lace for a change but this didn’t detract from the magical moodiness of the A/W collection and shows how well lace in any form can transcend all the seasons.
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| Alexander McQueen - Paris Fashion Week - Autumn Winter 2014/15 |
So the madness of fashion week season is over. But we kind of miss it already!
Image sources: www.vogue.com
