Paris Fashion Week: Day One

Updated Wednesday September 26, 10.26am: Two bastions of French fashion - Karl Lagerfeld and Alber Elbaz - have shown their enthusiasm for this season's Paris Fashion Week, and it's all thanks to Raf Simons and Hedi Slimane - who will make their womenswear ready-to-wear debuts for Dior and Saint Laurent Paris respectively. "I think it will be an exciting season in Paris. It is needed!" Lagerfeld told WWD. "It's stimulating and both [Simons and Slimane] are people I like a lot with a lot of talent." "I think it's going to be a fashion moment in Paris," agreed Alber Elbaz. "I think it's something that a lot of people are feeling and thinking about, and I love competition because it moves me forward. You know, I'm not a jealous person. I'm only jealous of people who can eat and don't gain weight. It motivates all of us to work harder and find solutions." Updated Wednesday September 26, 8.32am: Our appetites may have been whetted by Cedric Charlier and Anthony Vaccarello yesterday, but Paris Fashion Week gets in full swing today. While Guy Laroche, Alexis Mabille and Nicolas Andreas Taralis start the proceedings, Dries Van Noten is the first big name to take centre stage - with a show scheduled for 3pm. We'll hopefully be treated to more luxe daywear at Rochas this afternoon, before the dark subversive creations of Gareth Pugh at 6pm. The London-based designer - who started showing in Paris in 2008 - is sure to see front row support from his long-term friend and fan, Daphne Guinness - the perfect muse for his armour-like work. Martine Sitbon is expected to deliver more of her carefree feminine elegance at the Rue du Mail show this evening, as Nicola Formichetti gets set to unveil his next collection for Mugler later on - where he'll debut his first handbag line for the label. The French designer has fast become known for his attention-grabbing and impactful work, even casting Lady Gaga in his autumn/winter 2011-12 show. It'll no doubt give the fashion crowd a suitably bold way to round off day one of the Paris schedule.















 26 SEPTEMBER 2012ELLA ALEXANDER
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/09/26/paris-fashion-week-day-one---gareth-pugh