Once again, we're on a retro trip for Spring 2012, with the latest collection from Rochas showing slim, midcentury silhouettes with a serious dose of grooviness thanks to extreme cat-eye shades, bouffants, and head scarves. Our full review to come, but for now, check out the collection.
>> Helene Rochas, muse and former head of Rochas, passed away last week at 84. "It's the end of a myth, of an era," a Rochas spokesperson said of her death. "She was the muse of one of the great couturiers, the last to remain alive from that era."
Rochas passed away Aug. 6, and her funeral took place Friday "in the strictest privacy." Her children Francois and Sophie indicated through a law firm in Paris that a religious homage would be celebrated in September. The law firm was not able to specify the location and cause of death nor the funeral location.
Rochas was just 18 when she married couturier Marcel Rochas and became the face of his fashion house, founded in 1925; she was not quite 30 when he died in 1955 and she took over the company as CEO. She increased Rochas's business tenfold, turning it into one of the six largest perfume makers in France in the '60s before she sold the company in 1971.
She later returned to consult at Rochas between 1984 and 1989, and when Olivier Theyskens was creative director of the house between 2003 and 2006, he drew upon her as inspiration for his collections.
>> At last, the denouement: Fall 2011 Fashion Month is over and out. But before you get back to your regularly scheduled program, may we introduce our favorite shoes from Paris Fashion Week: there's lots of snakeskin, lots of black and white . . . and we couldn't forget those intricately laced Louis Vuitton boots — Kate Moss's pair apparently took four people an hour to lace up!
Paris Fashion Week wrapped up yesterday, and now that the last model has walked the last runway, we're taking a look at our absolute favorites in the eveningwear category. A highlight had to be Alexander McQueen, whose designer Sarah Burton modeled her Winter-white-clad models after the story of the Ice Queen. Or Chanel, where Karl Lagerfeld made the evening jumpsuit the main focus over traditional gowns. There were fun, flirty, short dresses too. We've rounded out the top 25 most stunning evening looks and put them all for you here. Click away.
>> Paris Fashion Week has started off with a big bang thanks to designers like Dries Van Noten, Gareth Pugh, and Rochas. But what you didn't see — until now — was the backstage action that went on between getting ready and hitting the runway. Check out detailed shots of Gareth Pugh's golden creations; a growling Jourdan Dunn; close-ups of Dries Van Noten's decadent velvet-trimmed handbags; and more cool backstage snaps in the slideshow.
Photos courtesy of Greg Kessler
>> The unveiling of Pre-Fall collections is still going strong, and we have the latest batch of shoes, bags, and accessories for you to check out — up close and personal. From a leather and plaid Celine bag, left, to a pair of over-the-knee lace-up boots from Givenchy, peruse the slideshow to see more of our favorite shoes, bags, and accessories from the likes of Lanvin, Rochas, Stella McCartney, Sonia Rykiel, and Nina Ricci.
>> The latest from backstage at Paris Fashion Week: Coco Rocha and her husband James Conran hanging pre-Christian Dior with Maryna Linchuk, Karlie Kloss playing air guitar at Jean Paul Gaultier, and Roland Mouret having a moment backstage with Daiane Conterato. All that, plus more snaps from Lanvin, Haider Ackermann, Pedro Lourenco, and Viktor & Rolf.
Photos: Greg Kessler
>> With Paris Fashion Week in full swing, we've got a look at Daria Werbowy and Carmen Kass backstage at Balmain — the latter showing off her new crop; Crystal Renn, Sessilee Lopez, Hilary Rhoda, and Coco Rocha all having a ball at Zac Posen; plus behind the scenes snaps from Dries van Noten, Nina Ricci, Rochas, and Rick Owens.
Photos: Greg Kessler
