Paris Fashion Week: Saint Laurent SS16

 

A pair of tattered jeans, a chunky biker jacket and a pair of less than glamorous wellies. These are generally items that would hide away in the back of a wardrobe, not the sort of thing you’d normally see on models as they stride down the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week – but since when has Hedi Slimane ever followed the norm?

Since he took over Saint Laurent in 2012, Slimane has been famed for pushing the boundaries with his collections. From the ripped fishnet tights with see-through dresses to the dark grungy colours that have been consistent for the last three years, the ‘Slimane-era’ of Saint Laurent has never been described as ‘tame’. Spring/Summer 16 kept up the theme with 67 looks of pure punk.

Sheer dresses played a huge part in Saint Laurent’s show; mini lace and fishnet numbers with flower embellishments, all roughed up with heavy denim and leather jackets and chunky wellington boots. Models oozed sex appeal with their makeup free faces and bed head hair, topped off with a princess tiara to up the glamour.

The likes of Kendall and Gigi were passed up at Saint Laurent, and instead replaced with edgier models such as Agyness Deyn and Ruth Bell, who recently landed a Cruise 2016 campaign with the brand after shaving off her hair.

But, never one to stick to a single theme, Slimane threw a number of more androgynous, casual looks into the mix. From denim overalls, to tailored suits, to baggy fur jackets, the perfect balance between edgy and glamorous was obtained through the whole show. Despite sticking to a very understated and neutral colour palette, pretty much every pattern from the animal kingdom was used to make certain looks really stand out. Lily Donaldson, Salma Hayek, and rockers such as Pete Doherty (The Libertines) and Luke Pritchard (The Kooks) watched as model after model made their way up the catwalk in Slimane’s creations.

Never one to shy away, Saint Laurent’s latest collection stood out in the fashion week shows. We can’t deny that it’s edgy, but Slimane has a skill that means his designs wouldn’t looks too out of place on an everyday twenty-something. Now, dig out those old ripped jeans and transform yourself into a Saint Laurent girl.