Paris Fashion Week SS 11 by NIGHT

As the sun sets upon the city of light . . . that is really when it all begins . . .well, when the party begins at least, not only are the days fully charged, the nights are even more so . . . the only impediment to anybody's enjoyment is how wretched it is to find a taxi. Now combine that with the fact that as a woman, it is the regle du jeu to galavant around the city in towers, literally.

Could not help but think that this season it was all about the music . . .might as well be called SS 11 x gigs as there were a fair few . . .there was a jubilant vibe about it all season and fun it defimitely was. Thank goodness the Disaya pieces were super comfy, made it easy to move elegantly. . and the slit leather jacket Au sent over was perfect for the weather oh and the fact that little Yves from Boyy, though tiny, fits everything. . . what fun times, what great memories, who j'adore toujours Paris. . .day or night.

1st Night . . .Colette for the Basement Collective curated by Tom Sachs. . I loved being a "winner" and Nick Doyle's surfer painting was awesome. Rainy night - ended at Souffle then Saloni's showroom for drinks . . .jetlagged!

2nd Night - Boyy's night out . . .a private dinner for Boyy in Paris upstairs at Le Petit Thiou . . .a little intro to my friends and fashion week fam. . . to introduce Wannasiri and Jesse to the fam and also of course to celebrate the fact that their AW 11 collection is in Colette and they were showing for the first time at Doors Studios their next collection. I put my order in already. The Eddy tote in cream is sublime.

Tom Palmer of Tom Palmer Projects

Susan Bender

Alex de Betak

Jesse (of Boyy), Dawn and Sam, Angela and Caroline Gaimari

3rd night - Dinner with my old friend A and the Disaya/Only Son crew. The Palais de la Decouverte where OLT went to space, OC and Maison Michel at Montana with Pete Doherty, Givenchy secret bday party for Maria Carla and little concert by Courtney Love. Carla through SUCH an amazing party at Givenchy and Olympia really confirmed that I should have persued my childhood ambition of being an astronaut. We missed the blockbuster Duran Duran gig at Fendi in lieu of Montana before it got nuts.

Au of The Only Son

4th Night - Jean Nouvel's H and M . . .then art dinner then NY NY . . .no pics . . .sorry . .

5th (and last night in Paris) - Africa Rising exhibition by Vuitton with Cleo as dj, Bono and Angelique Kidjo. Amazing and inspiring exhibition . . . Paris loves NY by V at Printemps with Courtney Love (again) and Lady Bunny . . . late night dins at the Costes and finally, HOME . .

Paris Fashion Week SS 11 by day . . .

Paris in the day consists of shows (usually in a cool dark room) and strolling around, the days were not too hectic for me and consisted of hanging at Doors Studio with Boyy and Jesse where they were showing the Boyy SS 11 collection . . .and gong to the odd show and strolling and catching up with friends (who are in fashion). As far as I am concerned, as they are concerned, a big part of fashion is the fashion world and the fashion world convergs on Paris a few times a year, to "catch up" with one's fashion family (to that is Susan Bender, Daniella, Corto, Popo and Alex) and in some cases brainstorm as to what to do next and really have a blast. . .

We could learn a few things or two with the upcoming Bkk Fashion Expo here in Thailand - like the network exists, the world is there, if we want to be in it, a good start is to visit that world and assimilate as opposed to try to create a parallel one that is out of context . . . Fashion shows to me is about relevance and context and ultimately vision, to regurgitate and to create a derivative is useless and ultimately is rendered obselete. What I saw this season was a yearning by fashion to be relevant and to inspire without being too complicated, what I did see did confirm that there is an effort to touch and feel and be. Reading Suzy Menkes' on point reviews also confirms that fashion is struggling and tuning itself to the 21st century, it is adjsuting and really, I hope this is the dawn of a new era (Galliano's Dior considered wearable and a quick sell is something rather new - like it or not).

What has changed since the last time I was at the collections is the army of "photographers" and bloggers in front of a show, it takes a good ten minutes to make it to the etnrance.

Dior

Alex's back drop to cheeky Betty Page girls in playful dresses and trenches. Not rocket science by any means and hardly challenging but a definite nod to disposable fashion and that girls do want to have fun and testiment that yes, the king of decadence can be commercial but keep a charm and sensibility which is his. Vibrant colour palette, mega wearable, if the ipad had a cart button linked to the show, Dior would have been very happy. The fact that the collection to some might be somewhat "low brow" and silly maybe goes to show that they might take all of this a bit too seriously? I mean, come on, the girls were hot, the dresses were cute and Aloha to that . .

Viktor and Rolf was good fun - Burea Betak set up . . . great shoulders, cute shirts . . .

Boyy

Then John Galliano - a visual feat . . . in the Opera comique . . . absolutely stunning to me she is the ultimate muse, down trodden but still devoted to inspiring, her mix of chinoserie with lace, gauze and glitter and sequins, forever fabulous, forever held by the allure of the artist and the opera . ..

Judging from the press that has been around the last couple days - all must hail the master Karl and of course Monsieur Alber . . .comme toujours . . . and of course . . Givenchy . . .

Then there are the little day time cocktails and press events .. . .I only went to Marc Jacobs by Hugo Scott's invitation, met the CEP Robert Duffy who is especiallly charming, uber intelligent and totally toally got his thing down. Rather inspiring.

Me, Hugo and Susan

Then of course, Corto . . .

and all roads do lead back to either the Cafe Castiglione, Cafe Ruc or Colette .. .oui, c'est la vie during fashion week.

Street Life - Paris

It seems now like a lifetime ago since Lynn and I were in Paris . . . I miss the streetlife . . .not streetlife like you would know it but probably closer to sitting at the Cafe de Flore watching the world go by . . . Forever an institution, even more now an institution what with Montana next door. It is the perfect little corner . . . always has been and hopefully always will be especially on balmy summer evenings. Then again for me, any excuse for a reunion with Cleo, my own little Miss Sunshine.

A gastronomic theatre through the backdoor . . .

Alain Ducasse's gastronomic kitchen which seen from where we were sat at his 3-star Michelin restaurant at the Plaza Athenee was like watching a theatre performance. 7 courses of delight smack in the middle of all the action. I remember thinking I wish I had not eaten that huge piece of pork at the Maison Baccarat earlier as what awaited us by the Chef was an epicurian adventure which included cockscombe among many other things.

From our room we descended up the bar for Grey Goose martinis then onto Ducasse. . . via the backdoor . . .

down the stairs . . .

to witness this . . . .

and to sit, just Lynn and I with the unwavering attention of sommeliers, a maitre de and waiters who took care of us under the watchful eye of the Chef (he's the guy without the big white hat).

the beginning

cockscombe

curtains down

the end

and back to the surface of the restaurant with our goody bags and customised menus . . . what bliss it was to climb up the stairs to bed . . . stuffed little gourmand piggies. Thank you Chef.