Balmain races to recover from robbery at Paris Fashion Week

The fashion world loves drama but normally it
does not involve violent robberies, so there is outsize attention on
Wednesday’s Balmain show after the French label had 50 outfits stolen just
days earlier.

Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing announced on September 17
that a driver had been “hijacked” on the way from a Paris airport to the
house’s headquarters by a gang of thieves who stole 50 outfits.

He and his team have since been racing to put together a collection for the
show on Wednesday night.

There were no signs of panic from Rousteing on Tuesday when he posted a
video from his workshop showing the finishing touches being put to a dress
that looked like a pink garden trestle with blue flowers climbing over it.

He added the apparently ironic comment: “Florals for spring?
Groundbreaking…”

Paris Fashion Week kicked off on Monday and runs to October 3, with 107
brands presenting, of which 67 are giving runway shows.

One of the first big names was Pierre Cardin, which has returned to the
official Paris lineup this year for the first time in a quarter-century.

Its show was full of retro space-age outfits that harked back to its glory
days, but the relatives of Cardin, who died in 2020, are currently tearing
each other apart in court over the inheritance.

“My uncle gave me the mission to perpetuate the house and its style,”
Rodrigo Basilicati-Cardin, who is currently overseeing the label, said
backstage.

“If the brand is sold, it will be the end of the house. I am confident the
court decisions will ensure continuity,” he added.

Among the other highlights so far was the latest collection from Dior on
Tuesday, which saw the walls of the show plastered with mock sexist slogans
from old adverts, such as “Save your marriage — iron properly”.

The collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri, who recently dressed Queen Camilla
for her state dinner at Versailles, was a largely monochrome affair with
comfortable, breezy items alongside straight masculine jackets, pleated skirts
and plenty of knitwear.

Coming later this week are final shows for two big-name designers.

Gabriela Hearst is leaving Chloe after fewer than three years. Her focus on
sustainable fashion was critically acclaimed but did not bring a major boost
to sales.

It will also be the last show for Sarah Burton, who took over at Alexander
McQueen following the founder’s suicide in 2010.(AFP)