Day seven of Paris fashion week brought new and old from Alexander McQueen and Kenzo. A hard role to fill, Sarah Burton stepped up to the task with flying colours after taking over from the late designer. With a light, warm and natural feel Burton took the esteemed label out of the dark narratives of Alexander McQueen’s previous collections whilst retaining the grandeur and fantasy that it is best known for. Opening in plain white, the show progressed into a celebration of nature with garments made out of black leather leaves, butterfly wings and feathers. At Kenzo the distinction of old and new was clearer with the first half of the show dedicated to the S/S11 collection and the second half to pieces from the label’s immense archive in celebration of its 40th anniversary. Designer Antonio Marras brought a celebratory mix of cultures to the new season referencing both Japan and his native Sardinia. Eye-catching prints featured Hokusai waves and voluminous floral dresses were adorned with 3D roses. The latter part of the show brought a fabulous mix and match of signature Kenzo textures, colours and prints.
Text by Lucia Davies
Devin Blair is originally from Vancouver. He studied fine art between Glasgow and Jerusalem and now lives in London.
