Spring Fashion Week in Paris

Last week was Spring Fashion Week in Paris, an event I'm not the least bit interested in but one that was difficult to avoid as the daily news reported on the happenings. Of course, the big news that over shadowed the entire week was the firing of Dior's famous designer Galliano. As for me and as luck would have it, I changed my views about fashion week on Friday when I accidentally stumbled upon one of the week's events and saw some of the most incredible sites I've seen in quite a while. It was late in the afternoon when after having seen an exhibit of some of Courbet's works of nature and having had coffee at a nearby café I decided to walk up to the Trocadero where I was to meet a group for a couple of avant-garde plays at 7pm (that's another whole story). Along Avenue Président Wilson there are several museums and since I had time to kill I chose to check out the Palais du Tokyo, a place where artists create contemporary installations and one that I had never been too. I noticed that there were a few black limos and people out front with high powered cameras but since the Palais is connected to the Musée d'Art Moderne I didn't really think much about it, plus you see these types of scenes regularly around Paris. Inside the building I didn't see much activity but when I went to pay for my admission I was told that I could only see the installations on the first floor because a fashion event was taking place in the ground floor gallery and that that would be over at 6pm if I wanted to wait. Ah, the reason for all the people out front, I thought. So, I went and saw the very unexciting and strange art installations then decided to wait to see if the ground floor held anything more interesting. I waited in the foyer above where I could look over the balcony and watch those leaving the event. It wasn't long before the doors opened and people started flowing out which was completely an OH MY GOSH moment for me. The people were the artwork here!! I had a top view of most but several celeb types were guided up the stairs right in front of where I was standing so I got a better look at them. The shoes women had on were the most outrageous pieces, and in some cases, the most unimaginable for walking that one could imagine. Really higher than it seems could be possible to wear but one young woman practically sprinted up the steps wearing wooden red platforms that must have had about 4 inches under the sole of the foot and about 10 in the heel. Another had on a pair that were likely 5 inch heels and thinner than a pencil! I have to admit too that they were walking upright rather than slightly bent forward like many I've seen in the streets. There were also lots of women wearing comfortable shoes. One had on a pair of black standard looking men's shoes that were covered with studs, and I saw some men with studs on their shoes as well. There were plenty of flat boots some opened with the tongues hanging out or partially unzipped. I actually wondered if it had been a show of punk clothes but the booklet I picked up said it was from Maison Martin Margiela. There were a number of young Japanese fashion goers so they might have been from Yohji Yamamoto's entourage since that show was scheduled at the same place for later that night. I noticed that it looks like fur is back in fashion with young people as I saw several short tight fitting fur jackets and one of those long fur vests--appalling waste of several animals especially since there aren't even sleeves on those things, after all what's the point if it's not even going to keep you warm? There were about 10 people, mostly women, in white lab coats standing outside on their side the gallery doors greeting people. One man seemed to be the center of attention, kissing and being kissed by numerous people, so I assumed he was the designer and I found out later while watching the news that those people are the ones who do the sewing, alterations, hairdos, makeup, etc. so it was nice to see them getting some of the attention they deserve. It was most interesting watching those who were looking at the cameras to see who was paying attention to them. One man dressed in a jacket made of tiger print fabric reached the top of the stairs, looked back and waited to make sure he had his following with him before continuing. After the crowd thinned out, I went downstairs to wait outside the door that was closed and guarded by this time. Soon people carrying suitcases began their exodus, the backstage crews I suppose. A young man carry a large, heavy suitcase won my prize for best hairdo...he could have come directly from the court of Marie Antoinette! His very long black hair swooped up from the back and was teased up to about a foot above his forehead in a cone-head style. Wow, after waiting 30 minutes, I never got into that gallery but I was sure entertained by what came out of it!