Paris Fashion Week Kicks Off With Anthony Vaccarello Spring/Summer 2011

Whereas Milan Fashion Week featured a number of collections that easily translated into everyday wear, this was not so much the case for the opening day of Paris Fashion Week as designers debuted spring collections that were a little more art and a little less practical. Take, for example, the Belgian-born, Paris-based designer Anthony Vaccarello, whose Spring/Summer 2011 collection was on everyone’s “must-watch” list this week after an eye-catching fall 2010 presentation.

Expanding on his previous collection, Vaccarello continued to experiment with sheerness and splicing in a muted palette of blacks and greys. On the whole, the looks were kept simple: models have their hair pulled back in messy buns and their faces bared no traces of makeup. The only accessories were the towering platform heels in equally subdued colors –in fact, the only real source of color in the show was the technicolor light projection on the walls in the gallery space of Paris’ Palais Royale where the show took place.

While Vaccarello may not have strayed too far from the classic Parisian aesthetics, he continued to hone and refine his technique of the look. One particularly inspired piece is a grey jersey dress, impeccably draped in such a way that it creates an illusion from the front; it is only when you realize that beneath the rather minimal fabric hides a metal framework that you can understand how the dress seemingly defies gravity. Given that many of the models are encased in metal beneath their skimpy dresses to maintain the integrity of the draping and gathering of material, it is no wonder they walked a little stiffly down the makeshift runway amongst the standing spectators.

The designer certainly did not let trends dictate his work, and while some of the Spring/Summer 2011 collection will only be adopted by the very brave, Anthony Vaccarello once again proved that he is worth following as he continues to experiment and find his signature style.

Photo Source: ShinyStyle.com