SAINT LAURENT SPRING/SUMMER 2013 

So here it is. The much anticipated debut (and first women’s!) show of menswear maestro Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent. The press and friends were led up to the Grand Palais, one of the most storied venues in Paris. As the lights dimmed, massive speakers were dropped from the ceiling. Daft Punk edited Junior Kimbrough started playing, the lights dimmed, and the anticipation was mounting as the first model started walking.

The collection beautifully married Slimane’s signature pieces (drainpipe trousers, slim suiting) with classic Saint Laurent staples (full-length dresses in splashes of color and the Saharienne). Interestingly enough, Slimane captured the essence of Saint Laurent through 70’s Hollywood glamour, and perfectly complimented it with his own slim looks. He presented it in an elegantly youthful way, championing the edgy rockers of today that like to dress up and go for a night out. 

Hedi successfully styled the pieces to reflect a menswear influence, but done in a very subversive and chic manner. Any model on the runway could have easily passed for the girlfriend of a musician waiting off the center of the stage for her beau to finish his set at Woodstock, wearing his jacket and just not giving a damn. The magic was all in the details, with large-brimmed hats, fringe-finished dresses, tassel-tied capes illuminating the runway. Hedi is back, and I’m quite happy about it.

Written by Dominik Halas. Photos from Style.com