Wether it is Milan or Paris, when Miuccia Prada makes a statement it is listened to.  For both collections- Prada and Miu Miu we found two common threads that will be apparent for Spring Summer 2011- stripes and stars.  Not that these were unexpected for the season, especially when it comes time for Fourth of July.

Stripes have been presented in an anti nautical way for the future season- since we all wished them to be done and gone after many comebacks.  The change has spawned with a twist of natural from nature, showing pops of neons.  Prada’s stripe gave this feeling of bee’s at first glance, the stripe only apparent through the center of the garb.  Others dressed up the stripe in variations or textures and sequins, giving a scaled or skin feeling.

In an industry built around an image that sells to a targeted audience, it was very interesting to see some of the “beautiful people” who are selling you that image in poor lighting.

Real girls in the world go as far as starving themselves in order to achieve the look that’s in the magazines.

Well, after meeting the models first hand, and observing the backstage, it’s easy to see that some of the girls are healthy and happy, and even visiting the food table more than once, while others, look like they haven’t slept in days and have maybe even seen the wrong side of the mirror… if you catch the drift.

Left in a city, with little conversation due to language restrictions, it was a great surprise to have Grand Life and Opening Ceremony throwing a party here in Paris to celebrate Fashion Week.  During certain points of the party I was really confused whether I was in New York.

Alexis Mabille: Spring 2010 Couture

Here at the Forward Fashion team, we have been raving about the bisected trend since the last season of Alexis Mabille, where a head to toe bisected trend was introduced.   The version seen initially was difficult to process at first sight- questioning the wearability of the trend at all.  Really, who can pull off this ostentatious suit, even among the most flamboyant of cities?

For this Spring Summer 2011, we have seen an array of designers hop on the bisected train following this great suit that no one knew how to where- translating it in a better way for people to pick up!  This trend was a good transition after such a mass liking to color blocking and asymmetry.

While flocks of skipping and smiling models have been the chosen closing line up for designers from Alexander Wang to Lanvin, the trend has definitely caught on amongst the fashionable ones on the street.

This week in Paris, it has been difficult to spot a person of style going solo, as a fashionable friend is always in tow.

Here are a few of the pairs generating remarkable appearances this fashion week.   

Giorgio Armani

Zac Posen

As shoulder definition begins to subside, or become prominent in other ways, the waist begins to create an illusion of being cinched through hem flairs.  This season has been all about detailing in volume.  With minimalism at its highest roar in silhouette and color palettes, the details are what differentiate the good from the best.

The Doublet of the 17th Century

Gareth Pugh

Jil Saunder

Whether stocked full of champagne and little sandwhiches with the crust cut off, or stuck down in some extra room with grocery store cookies, being back stage is one of the most exciting parts of fashion week.

It’s where all of the reality happens, where models rehearse and get yelled at by coaches, fall down, and smoke, a lot.

It’s where 5 or 6 different hairdressers fix a model’s hair in 10 minutes because she’s just run in from another show.

It’s the unglamorous that leads to that 5 minutes of fabulous fashion that everyone wants to be a part of.

While walking amongst the most fashionable of the fashionable, a few distinct individuals caught they street style eye of Forward Fashion.

PR Girl Style in Paris

Earrings in Paris

Tights in Paris

Self-created Headwear in Paris

Chain Detail in Paris

Real Men Carry Bags in Paris

Studs in London, and Paris

The Coolest Shoes Ever, in Paris

The Elizabethan Ruff

From the mid 1500s to the 1600s well dressed people of middle or higher class began to wear ruffs around the neck to represent fashion.  It was a process that individuals went through to signify that they were well dressed.  The Elizabethan Era was an era of social structure, people were limited to what they were allowed to wear based on a structure of classes.  Each class was defined by a series of fabrics or silhouettes- binding them publically to a specific group.