Style director Adrian Clark rounds up the best looks from yesterday's shows in Paris and tells you how to get the groomed look from Phillip Lim's collection
All aboard the good ship Vuitton, designer Kim Jones took to the high seas for his third collection at LV (pictured centre left), with a maritime-inspired theme that moved effortlessly between sailing and surf, linked by the use of luxury fabrics. Wet suits in navy cashmere with highlighter pen orange and yellow stripes were modern, as were the drip-dry fabrics used for shorts suits and trenches. From the double-breasted suits in iridescent navy silk down to the white Epi leather deck shoes, this was sport luxe (think snorkelling in Belize) to vacation formal (St Tropez, of course) in its finest hour.
Dutch design duo Viktor & Rolf (pictured centre right) looked to the East for one of their best collections to date. The show’s finest moments were the sportswear and tailoring that featured mirrored embroidery, herringbone weaves with metallic thread, which caught the light beautifully, and its warm and sensual tonal colour palette of cinnamon, paprika and apricot.
However, it was left to Dries Van Noten (pictured far left) to take the loudest applause. A very accomplished collection of casual, sporty separates, cotton knits and softly tailored suits in technical fabrics, with some featuring Van Noten’s own twisted interpretation on traditional camouflage. Dries manages to perfectly walk the line between commerciality and creativity, a trick very few other designers have mastered.
Grooming tip:
Phillip Lim’s extreme ‘up-do’ (pictured far right) created for models' hair requires product that will not only offer maximum hold, but will also promise all-day longevity. To achieve the look blow dry damp hair into place using L’Oreal Paris Studio Line’s Indestructible Gel Extreme Hold; £3.56 for 150ml, which basically does what it says on the tube offering extreme styling hold that won't fade with added elastic resistance. For skin, Lim gave his models a sun-kissed look that was very natural and not too deep, a difficult ask from grooming products which can sometimes leave an orange residue. One product that works well for this look is L’Oreal Paris Men Expert’s Hydra Energetic Gradual Tan Moisturiser; £10.71 for 50ml, a wise investment that will give you a natural looking tan within two hours and is easy to apply by smoothing onto the skin without leaving unsightly ‘tell-tale’ streaks.
