Saint Laurent closes Paris Fashion Week with fresh shapes and bright fabrics

PARIS: Anthony Vaccarello, creative director of French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent, showed a runway lineup of evening-appropriate minidresses in bright colours and round, voluminous gowns on Tuesday, capping over a week of fashion shows in Paris.

Held near the Eiffel Tower after nightfall, the audience sat on dark leather stools and couches, surrounded by glowing pink walls with marbled, mineral patterns.

The first model marched out on towering sling-back heels, her hands thrust deep into the pockets of a short dress in bright, marigold orange.

The shoulders were broad and the sleeves were wide, while a tall collar rose to the model’s jaw line. Similar silhouettes followed, in colours like fuchsia, teal or yellow.

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“Instead of speaking through ornament or padding, fabrics and precise construction shape the garments,” the Kering-owned label wrote in notes about the winter collection.

Partway through the show, the focus on volumes suddenly shifted to below a dropped waist, with a series of silky slip dresses that ballooned into hulking, rounded shapes that floated down the runway.

There were also trim, transparent dresses in a lightweight silicone fabric, with leopard or floral prints. Model Bella Hadid paraded a bright blue dress in stretchy lace.

Front row guests included famous Parisians Betty Catroux, Catherine Deneuve, Carla Bruni and Charlotte Gainsburg.

Paris Fashion Week, which ended on Tuesday, featured shows from some of the world’s biggest brands including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior and Hermes as well as Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham.