Paris Fashion Week: Hedi Slimane’s Spring 2012 Saint Laurent Show is ’70s Rock and Roll

The First Lady of France, Valerie Trierweiler, 47, attended her very first fashion show today. And it was a big one — Hedi Slimane’s first Saint Laurent Spring 2013 collection. Plus, she was seated next to American Queen of Fashion, Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

The hotly anticipated show at the Grand Palais also drew Hollywood red carpet darlings Jessica Chastain and Salma Hayek, as well as Yves Saint Laurent’s longtime partner, Pierre Berge, along with Kate Moss and her husband, Jamie Hince.

Slimane had lots of designer pals there too, including Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Furstenberg, Alber Elbaz, Riccardo Tisci, Azzedine Alaia and Vivienne Westwood

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But enough about the famous front row faces. Let’s talk about the collection. It was all classic looks from the ‘70s YSL collections, slightly reworked to look modern, fresh and edgy. Everything was rock and roll hip, dangerously glamorous, and fit for a young Marianne Faithful or Francoise Hardy.

There were lots of broad floppy hats, sheer blouses, large bows, fur and sparkles, long, floaty layered and tiered dresses and skirts in silk, chiffon and leather. Sequined cropped jackets and camel colored suede and black leather coats and jackets for a rocker gunslinger effect , worn over lace-up long dresses and and skinny pants.

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There were a few decidedly hippie paisley-floral silk gowns with full sleeves. Sometimes the long dresses looked a bit too medieval and the floppy hats on every model often had a witchy Halloween feel. But take off the hats and the clothes are practical and comfortable, sexy and edgy.

Stand outs: Black shorts (or skorts?) with a long jacket that dipped to the floor in back. A crocheted and fringed leather cape. And a zebra-stripe full length feathered coat.

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Who will be the first to wear some of Slimane’s reinterpretions of Saint Laurent on the Awards Season red carpets? Our money is on risk-taker Chastain, of course. Can you imagine how amazing she will look with her long red hair in some of these outfits? 

The late Saint Laurent is credited with raising couture to new heights in the ’70s. He popularized the beatnik look, safari and smoking jackets, tight pants, thigh high boots and the classic tuxedo for women.

He was inspired by the hip social set in Paris including his muse Lou Lou de la Falaise, and he was a regular on the young Euro-party scene that included rock stars and their girlfriends. His ready-to-wear collections were wildly popular and he is said to have given a huge boost to the entire RTW industry.

Looks like Slimane is following in Saint Laurent’s footsteps — but definitely not his shadow.