Paris Fashion Week Favorites

It's never easy guessing Tao's origin of inspiration. Some say Tao is inspired by Russia or Scandinavia, some say Turkey. When asked about this collection she said she was not inspired by any particular geographic location, but by cake decorations. She later revealed that she was inspired by an Eastern European city, but not which one. Whatever the case, the whimsical and folkloric clothing showed a darker side to ribbons and embroidery. The large velvet bows that adorned the models heads, the silly proportions, the Frida Kahlo-like make-up swept across the model's brows. It's a whole new world with Tao.




















Frida Kahlo:





Balenciaga is usually my favorite show. The architectural fabrics transform into sleek luxurious articles of clothing every time. I think that Nicolas Ghesquière does a great job of keeping the original Balenciaga in mind when he designs. No other designer is able to convey a piece of clothing so architectural but so wearable at the same time. It seems that Ghesquière took a new route this time and went rather the opposite of highly structural, the enemy: draping. But if this is really draping, it's draping like you've never seen it before. A skirt made of draping shows rows and rows of satin, silk, and velvet perfectly aligned to each other. It's imperial, like something a space-age empress from the North would wear. Later in the show, jodhpurs, a Balenciaga classic emerged. But these were different, new. As with the skirts, the side of the pants were beautifully draped. "A bit India" as Ghesquière said himself. The silk print dresses were as constant as they were classic during the show. It was like a look inside the Balenciaga archives.

M00re Pierre

Designed by the Balenciaga shoe director Pierre Hardy, these Gap shoes now come in four different colors! And at under $100...

AMAZIIING.



Also in White.

Cristobal Balenciaga

Born 1895 in Spain, Cristobal spent his teenage years learning all about dressmaking. The designer opened his first boutique in 1915 in San Sebastián, at the age of only 20, and continued opening more stores all over Spain. Balenciaga first opened as a couture house in Paris during the year of 1937. The talented designer retired and closed the house in 1968, claiming "There is no one worth left dressing." Scarves, bags, and perfumes were still manufactured while clothing was not. He passed away in 1972, sadly.

In 1987 Micheal Goma began designing under the Balenciaga name, then Melchior Thimister, and now Nicolas Ghesquiere, who does a FANTASTIC job.

Cristobal left behind a legacy. He was a prophet; a creator of silhouettes. His sack dress, which debuted at the beginning of the 1950s would flavor the world of fashion to come. Balenciaga was a genius of shape but also a master colorist. He typically chose colors like yolk yellow, bubble gum pink, and grass green for ball gowns.

The fashion photographer, Cecila Beaton, once said that Balenciaga's clothes were great because "they are the result of depth of thought intense concentration, even physical suffering."

"Almost every woman, directly or indirectly, has worn a Balenciaga." - Harper's Bazaar















images: fashionspot