A Field Guide to Fashion Week

Fashion month S/S 2011 is over. We will have to wait until early December to get our knickers all up in a twist salivating over the pre-fall collections.

All in all...I have to say I wasn't overwhelmingly impressed with the grand picture for Spring. But as I am enraptured by capes, leather, and anything black, no spring collection will ever be as I am undeniably a fall girl.

One aspect of fashion week however that is engaging, to anyone even remotely allured by gorgeousness, would be the ensembles showcased outside of the runway.

In my opinion...it is the editors, the bloggers, the style stalkers, and most importantly the MODELS OFF DUTY who really make me purr.

However, because I am not the only person who thinks like this, and in fact everybody is cuckoo for street chic...capturing it on camera becomes somewhat of an obstacle course. Whereas I stalk fashion week for the sheer bliss I feel being seen amongst these unquestionably chic creatures, most people outside the shows vigarously clicking away are there professionally and are contracted to get the best/exclusive/sublime-er shot than everyone else. i.e. the tommy ton, garance dore, scott schuman, phil oh, craig arend, phil oh etc.

So as a preface...you have probably seen better shots on jak & jil, streetpeeper etc. I know, ive seen and loved them as well. But know that they were much more aggressive in capturing the fabulosity through their canon rebel lens. Note...its really hard to hold a camera steady/hit the shutter in a timely fashion when you are shivering all over by the fur/leather/leggy divinity a few yards away from you.

In any case, as I am unfortunately still a student and not yet a voguette-in-training I only went to three shows: Balmain, Dior, Isabel Marant, Rick Owens. But all four evoke very different vibes thus eliciting a grand variation in attendee apparel. Besides, in my opinion all three were far more exciting outside then the punk rock/sailor on leave in hawaii business strutting down the catwalk.

So without further ado:

10 Steps to Create ENSEMBLE ENVY during fashion week:

10. Sport an unmarked leather sac-designed to be unrecognizably chic, but inherently "it"

Garance and her Givenchy Nightingale

I cannot decide which is best...
the bag, the boots, or the fur-sleeved sweatshirt???

Proenza Schouler PS1...my personal favorite.

Big enough to fit all of your invitations...small enough to tuck under your first row seat...or big enough to fit your next oufit (though less fashionable men are often hired for that one). Most frequently, the Chanel 2.55, Proenza Schouler PS1, or Balenciaga Lariat.

9. Ride a bike, while wearing platforms and a maxi skirt. Use said "it" bag your less functional, yet incredibly cooler wicker basket.

8. Bring a male friend with complimentary fashion taste. Ensure that you still look better/taller.

Emmanuelle Alt & Co both effortlessly cool and synchronized.

Julia Sarr-Jamois and friend looking very pretty in pink.

Scott & Garance: The reigning couple of fashion photography.

Question: what happens when they both have to postion themselves for a shot?

Technically her legs are longer...so I assume she would get it first.

7. Be Kate Moss

And have a ring big-boned men hovering around you, walking at a pace so slowly (its hard to be one woman and 6 bodyguards against about 100 paparazzo + me) surely you'd delay the show. Regardless of the fact that your razor sharp YSL Tributes can easily become a defense weapon, your bodyguards will inevitably start fights for you to ward off the overeager cameraman. (p.s. this happened)

6. Be nonchalantly fabulous:

Do: Drink in between shows/work.

Do: Talk on one blackberry have a backup dangling in your other hand.

Do: Be Olivier Zahm and be the constantly on the run, evoking that just rolled out of bed after a long night of partying and forgot i was a fashion editor look you do so well.
Do: Wear a leather motorcycle jacket.

5. Be this girl:

Rocking your multilayered sheer black dress with rugged shearling booties and an ultra coveted chanel backpack. Be ready to incite a flurry of jealousy, mysticism and girlfights.

4. Be a model.

With this factor you can get away with ANYTHING...and still be ultimately cooler than everybody else. Your extended leggage is the equivalent to being closer to the sun/higher beings...so you are automatically superior. You will be instantly forgiven for flooding hemlines, mussed hair and anyt other general human flaw because...you can't possibly be that toweringly chic and still human.

3. Add a rather taboo/childish item to your repertoire and make it work.

Definitely helps if its leather. or black. or the result of one of Lagerfeld's "hobby themed" inventions.

Also works seamlessly if you work for Rick Owens. And wear a riding helmet.

Easiest if you are a model...even the most infantile object becomes chic.

2. Embrace legal public nudity, and swath that body of yours in some black and sheer.

p.s. I am OBSESSED with this trend/law/life mantra.

1. Be Anna Dello Russo

Nobody does it like her. And being as fabulous as she is, it makes perfect sense that she would brush her shoulders off in emerald plumage.

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And if all else fails (and #4 doesn't apply to you) try mixing several of these steps at once, throw on some rouge and unintentionally get yourself in close proximity to one of those divine creatures...

obviously I didn't intentionally wriggle my way into Caroline's shot...hopefully she didn't mind too much. also she takes the best street snaps ever (not just because i am biased). If you have never been to her site before...get ready for some major swedish swooning.

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So sorry, this post was long overdue. La vie parisienne is sublime naturally...but packed tighter than a herve leger bandage dress. I will try to be better about frequency, really I will.

bisous from paris,

mlle. mode