Geeking Out at Chanel
Sasha Pivovarova with Karmen Pedaru
Earlier this week I was in Paris to attend what was supposed to be two couture shows: Xuan-Thu Nguyen and Alexandre Matthieu. Then I was bumped from the latter by Vogue Italia! I was one of the last confirmed and they made requests after the list was closed and therefore I became the sacrificial fashion lamb. I was disappointed because I really admire the beautiful work of Alexandre Morgando and Matthieu Bureau and this was the first time they were invited to show during haute couture week. However, their people were very apologetic and asked for my understanding. And uh, yeah, I think I can understand why Vogue might have won out there. And I think it's kind of funny. Turns out I wouldn't have made the show anyway, I got in too late. So there.
Xuan-Thu Nguyen's superb collection deserves a post of its own so this one is about what I saw afterward, outside the Chanel show at Grand Palais. And this is where the geekery comes in. I couldn't care less about celebrities, unless it's Audrey Tautou or Vanessa Paradis or any other French actresses or singers. Haute couture favours the socialites who are the ones who buy from the collection and fashion editors and other big players in the industry, and it's those influential people I'm most interested in. Socialites slide right off my brain, however, but I was looking forward to seeing Daphne Guinness who must have been there but I didn't see her (and she's so much more than a socialite, it must be noted). Her cousin Jasmine was and she looked fantastic with her red lips, red belt and red seamed stockings (she never goes out without something red). And she paused for a photo when she saw me light up at noticing her but it blurred. Poo.
It rained while sunny and we got a rainbow over the Petit Palais across the street!
Before that, the same thing happened but with Mario Testino. I nearly died. He saw me gasp (I know, I know) and stood right in front of me, looked me in the eye and smiled. My heart was racing and my fingers were so shaky that the photo came out completely blurred. But I'm keeping it because you can still see that he was smiling. And what a smile it was. He's quite tall, too. He's a very charismatic presence.
And then it was like my fairy godmother granted all my wishes at once with a parade of style icons, editors, the models from the show and the most gorgeous Chanel haute couture dresses. One young socialite who couldn't have been more than 17 years old was wearing the most exquisitely detailed dress with lace and tulle and camelias which I believe is from the current collection (of course).
The Queen of fashion journalism: Suzy Menkes and her famous quiff.
I was so excited to see Suzy Menkes but I have to admit it was eclipsed when I turned around and Carine Roitfeld, Editor in Chief of French Vogue was right in front of me. (And if you don't know her you are probably thinking that's an unflattering photo but that's actually what she looks like. But we don't care, she's amazing. She's real, like French women tend to be.) I was expecting Balmain shoulders but she's already done that. Next.
My new prized photo: Carine Roitfeld
Xuan-Thu Nguyen's superb collection deserves a post of its own so this one is about what I saw afterward, outside the Chanel show at Grand Palais. And this is where the geekery comes in. I couldn't care less about celebrities, unless it's Audrey Tautou or Vanessa Paradis or any other French actresses or singers. Haute couture favours the socialites who are the ones who buy from the collection and fashion editors and other big players in the industry, and it's those influential people I'm most interested in. Socialites slide right off my brain, however, but I was looking forward to seeing Daphne Guinness who must have been there but I didn't see her (and she's so much more than a socialite, it must be noted). Her cousin Jasmine was and she looked fantastic with her red lips, red belt and red seamed stockings (she never goes out without something red). And she paused for a photo when she saw me light up at noticing her but it blurred. Poo.
It rained while sunny and we got a rainbow over the Petit Palais across the street!
Before that, the same thing happened but with Mario Testino. I nearly died. He saw me gasp (I know, I know) and stood right in front of me, looked me in the eye and smiled. My heart was racing and my fingers were so shaky that the photo came out completely blurred. But I'm keeping it because you can still see that he was smiling. And what a smile it was. He's quite tall, too. He's a very charismatic presence.
And then it was like my fairy godmother granted all my wishes at once with a parade of style icons, editors, the models from the show and the most gorgeous Chanel haute couture dresses. One young socialite who couldn't have been more than 17 years old was wearing the most exquisitely detailed dress with lace and tulle and camelias which I believe is from the current collection (of course).
The Queen of fashion journalism: Suzy Menkes and her famous quiff.
I was so excited to see Suzy Menkes but I have to admit it was eclipsed when I turned around and Carine Roitfeld, Editor in Chief of French Vogue was right in front of me. (And if you don't know her you are probably thinking that's an unflattering photo but that's actually what she looks like. But we don't care, she's amazing. She's real, like French women tend to be.) I was expecting Balmain shoulders but she's already done that. Next.
My new prized photo: Carine Roitfeld
I know some of you who come by for the Paris photos and art are saying
'Who?' and others at the opposite end are saying 'Please. No need to
crap your pants.' But this really is a big deal to me, these people are my
Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce and whoever else everyone loses it over. They create fashion, and some of them ARE fashion. And
by my reaction it would seem that this is an important thing to me. It stings but I missed Inès de la Fressange. This time.
But I didn't miss Anna Piaggi! And no one was taking her photo but me! How can you not photograph Anna Piaggi even if you don't know who she is? (And if you're there, how can you not?) She was whisked away in a waiting car, which was a Vogue car. Yes, it had 'Vogue' painted on the side. Speaking of Vogue, Vogue Italia's editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani went unnoticed as well (I wonder if it was her who got my seat at Alexandre Matthieu). I didn't take a photo because silly me didn't want to appear ravenous like some others out of respect (I must have confused a major fashion event with a funeral). But then the subjects became far too tempting and I remembered that I do write a fashion blog. And they are surely used to being photographed by now!
And now, the models. When Sasha Pivovarova appeared (header photo) - my favourite of the last few years as she filled the void Gemma Ward left but in her own way - people went absolutely apeshit. Imagine this, gasped in the most over-the-top male 'fashion' voice: "She's FANTASTIC!" Gasp. Moan. Gasp. "She's THE BEST!" More gasping and shaking of the head with mouth agape. And a little bit of drool. She was in FULL model mode and with that Chanel cap, the multi-strands and her attitude she gave everyone exactly what they wanted. Her intensity is really quite surreal. Her signature taken-from-a-psychotic-episode stare is a force of nature yet for that brief moment I wasn't sure what was in front of me was actually human. Here's an example if Sasha is new to you (I'm accommodating my non-fashion readers here because I love them):
She whipped out the cigarette and began smoking in one
fluid, overly-dramatic motion. She still reeked of tobacco, though.
I love this photo. They just keep on giving. Every movement
seems camera-worthy. Yulia, Tara Jean and I can't tell who is
on the left (many do look the same!)
Lara Stone. Her gift bag was bigger than that of a lot of the other models.
Remember, she's considered the 'normal-sized' girl':
Baptiste Giabiconi, who appears in every Chanel show for
some reason. Apologies to him for the laser eyes.
Elsa Sylvan
Magdalena. Stunning.
Shu Pei Qin. I cannot begin to describe just how gorgeous
she is in person. Especially when she smiles. She's so tall and I'd
say she presented as the most impressive out of all the models.
But I didn't miss Anna Piaggi! And no one was taking her photo but me! How can you not photograph Anna Piaggi even if you don't know who she is? (And if you're there, how can you not?) She was whisked away in a waiting car, which was a Vogue car. Yes, it had 'Vogue' painted on the side. Speaking of Vogue, Vogue Italia's editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani went unnoticed as well (I wonder if it was her who got my seat at Alexandre Matthieu). I didn't take a photo because silly me didn't want to appear ravenous like some others out of respect (I must have confused a major fashion event with a funeral). But then the subjects became far too tempting and I remembered that I do write a fashion blog. And they are surely used to being photographed by now!
And this woman was something else, she was wearing a sheer dress with nothing underneath on top and had a much younger man on her arm. She hammed it up, flashing some leg and dancing around and then she changd her shoes with the help of her date who replaced her heels with these ratty flip flops! Awesome.
More girls who just can't help being 'modelly' when off the clock:
She whipped out the cigarette and began smoking in one
fluid, overly-dramatic motion. She still reeked of tobacco, though.
I love this photo. They just keep on giving. Every movement
seems camera-worthy. Yulia, Tara Jean and I can't tell who is
on the left (many do look the same!)
Lara Stone. Her gift bag was bigger than that of a lot of the other models.
Remember, she's considered the 'normal-sized' girl':
Baptiste Giabiconi, who appears in every Chanel show for
some reason. Apologies to him for the laser eyes.
Elsa Sylvan
Magdalena. Stunning.
Shu Pei Qin. I cannot begin to describe just how gorgeous
she is in person. Especially when she smiles. She's so tall and I'd
say she presented as the most impressive out of all the models.
Oh, and I finally got to sit in Ladurée's dreamy bar and have my macaron cocktail! I went for the cassis. And it was only 22 euros! Ha. Seriously, it was. It was strong, as in alcohol, and that cream at the top while at first seems more fresh and milky than rich and creamy is deceptive. I got so full that halfway through I had to stop. Maybe I should have had it before I had lunch upstairs! I didn't know how I was going to finish it but despite feeling very uncomfortable I persevered - it cost 22 euros after all!
I finished all but a couple of sips. As I ventured out on Champs Elysees I thought at one moment I might throw up right there on the street. And if I had, do you know what my next words would have been? "I REGRET NOTHING!"
I finished all but a couple of sips. As I ventured out on Champs Elysees I thought at one moment I might throw up right there on the street. And if I had, do you know what my next words would have been? "I REGRET NOTHING!"
This is amazing.... simply amazing. Really cool snapshots.
Posted by: Blueberry Deluxe | July 11, 2009 at 06:02 AM
such a fun romp- love it, thank you for sharing. la
Posted by: littleaugury | July 11, 2009 at 06:06 AM
Awesome pictures...we're just missing one of you!
Posted by: WendyB | July 11, 2009 at 09:25 AM
Right about now I am crazy jealous! Your trip sounds AMAZING. I can't believe you ran into Carine Roitfeld and Mario Testino! I would have died. Love the macaron cocktail. Brilliant.
Posted by: Reanna | July 11, 2009 at 03:29 PM
what an amazing post! I wish I could have been there with you - those are all my heroes too :-) and BTW I think Carrine is stunning - just cause she has a real face does not make her less so - it makes her more so
Posted by: Shrimpton Couture | July 11, 2009 at 05:36 PM
Oh my god what an adventure. I ate up every word. Good for you for being a fan enough to feel the giddiness of seeing these amazing fashion players but not completely losing your mind. I think you were a perfect lady! Sooo envious.
Posted by: Sandra @ DebutanteClothing | July 11, 2009 at 05:44 PM
i want the chanel bags, carrie's necklace, and the cigarette. but after the dessert. i would've regretted not a thing.
Posted by: alexandra keller | July 12, 2009 at 06:18 AM
Amazing. And unreal-- the off-duty model poses. I suppose they can't help themselves; they are as God made them-- models, after all. Lara Stone is so flipping cool. She's one of my favorites. OMG. Carine is awesome, of course, but I think a Suzy Menkes sighting is just as cool in my book. She's a writer! A real working journalist! Not to say that all the fabulous pictures aren't awesome. Sigh. Can't wait to read your report of the actual couture show... Dreamy dreamy dreamy!
Posted by: dreamsequins | July 13, 2009 at 05:00 AM
so jealous that you got a picture of carine! très up close and personal too! thanks for sharing! Hx
Posted by: Heidi | July 13, 2009 at 07:42 AM
Aw, thanks guys! So glad you like them. I have to admit that I keep reading the post over and over and over, I can't believe how well some of the photos turned out. And there was even a rainbow as if the rest wasn't enough! ♥
Posted by: Denise @ Swelle | July 13, 2009 at 08:51 AM
Wow, sounds like you've had an AMAZING time! I love all of your photos. Sasha Pivovarova makes me hate my face x
Posted by: Frankie - Swell Vintage | July 13, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Wow! This post is amazing, looks like you had a fabulous time. The snapshots you took are fantastic; I just cannot stop staring at Carine's jewellery - I want! x
Posted by: T-Shirt and Tails | July 14, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Wow. Your blog is simply fascinating! Love it. :)
Posted by: Margaux | August 04, 2009 at 09:08 PM