Archive: February 2008
Christian Lacroix's View of History
Designer Christian Lacroix, who showed his collection Wednesday evening, has always been known for his exuberant historical references and his eye for detail. So it wasn't surprising to discover that he had curated an exhibition on fashion history at the...
By Robin Givhan | February 29, 2008; 8:27 AM ET | Comments (3)
Designers Just Say No
The Dutch designers Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, aka Viktor & Rolf, showed their line on Tuedsay afternoon and it was apparently a kind of catharsis for them. Frustrated by the relentless demands to create one collection after another with...
By Robin Givhan | February 28, 2008; 8:50 AM ET | Comments (2)
Animals, Take Cover!
(REUTERS/Benoit Tessier) I cannot recall the last time I saw so much fur on a runway. The models in Jean Paul Gaultier's show Tuesday night were decked out in all sorts of animal pelts, faux pelts and pelts with...
By Robin Givhan | February 27, 2008; 7:41 AM ET | Comments (5)
YSL's Opium Den
In between looking at the fishnet dresses at Maison Martin Margiela and the torn blazers at Yohji Yamamoto, I went to the cocktail party for the new Yves Saint Laurent boutique at 6 Place Saint Sulpice. The entrance was lined...
By Robin Givhan | February 26, 2008; 8:11 AM ET | Comments (1)
Rose Petals and Baggage
I arrived in Paris on Saturday afternoon from Milan. I was in an ever so slightly grumpy mood because I had flown Air France. This meant that I had been forced to pay an inordinate penalty for overweight baggage because...
By Robin Givhan | February 25, 2008; 8:14 AM ET | Comments (0)
Marni and McDreamy
Thursday was a good day because the sun was shining, I bought a Marni blouse at discount and the actor Patrick Dempsey was in my future. I managed to scare up a little time to visit the Marni outlet at...
By Robin Givhan | February 22, 2008; 8:59 AM ET | Comments (0)
Super Heroes and Super Surprises
I was struck dumb at the Prada show on Tuesday night when, lo and behold, who should come walking down the runway but the model Jourdan Dunn. Black girl walking! During all the brouhaha in New York over the...
By Robin Givhan | February 21, 2008; 6:55 AM ET | Comments (0)
Virtual Bags
Today was one of those days clogged with fashion shows every hour on the hour. The fashion parade zipped all across town running from the Giorgio Armani show at 11 in the morning and finishing up with Jil Sander at...
By Robin Givhan | February 18, 2008; 6:04 PM ET | Comments (2)
Shopping Buzz-Kill
I arrived in Milan on Saturday and immediately settled into my twice yearly ritual: Take a quick nap and check out the stores. I headed over to the Prada store where the place was filled with those diaphanous dresses and...
By Robin Givhan | February 18, 2008; 8:54 AM ET | Comments (4)
One Small Step Toward Diversity
I have spent no small amount of time writing on this blog and in the newspaper about the lack of diversity on the runway. I've written about the efforts by industry veteran Bethann Hardison to impress upon the fashion industry...
By Robin Givhan | February 8, 2008; 8:16 AM ET | Comments (14)
Raising Malawi
I realized I was in the wrong business sometime around 11 p.m. Wednesday, after burlesque performer Dita von Teese, who was one of the guests at the charity dinner I attended, bid about $400,000 for four Madonna concert tickets, business...
By Robin Givhan | February 7, 2008; 8:07 AM ET | Comments (2)
Good-looking Gap
Designer Patrick Robinson has moved hither and yon in the fashion industry. He worked for Giorgio Armani in Milan. Then he came to New York to design Anne Klein. Then he had his own collection. Then he was hired at...
By Robin Givhan | February 6, 2008; 8:01 AM ET | Comments (0)
Famous Ducks in a Row
Monday was one of the busiest show days. I might have set a personal record for the number of runway shows I managed to squeeze in - a whopping total of 10. Seeing too many shows in one day is...
By Robin Givhan | February 5, 2008; 8:37 AM ET | Comments (0)
Red Dresses and Show Dogs
My weekend was so filled with fashion shows, rain, fashion shows and rain that I'm not quite sure where to begin. How about with Heidi Klum? She was one of the celebrity models in the Red Dress fashion show on...
By Robin Givhan | February 4, 2008; 8:18 AM ET | Comments (2)
A Glass of Pinot and Suits for the President
My feet are tired. It's freezing outside. And I'm taking particular pleasure in a glass of Sea Smoke pinot noir. It must be New York fashion week. Officially, Friday, Feb. 1 is the start of New York's fall 2008 runway...
By Robin Givhan | February 1, 2008; 8:19 AM ET | Comments (4)
