Best of Paris Spring 2011

As always, fashion season's don't get as exciting and inventive anywhere else as they do in Paris. Here's a look at our Spring/Summer 2011 favorites from the city of light, ones that are destined to inspire our future buys.

Celine(and above)



What can we say, we like many of you, can't get enough of what Phoebe Philo is doing at Celine and Spring's effort was once again, right on the money. Her focus on the confident woman is still there, but it was the collections take on the yetti coat's free-spirited rawness that felt fresh this time around. And while her covetable leather separates and crisp takes on the white button down made an appearance, we're especially keen on her new fluid pant.

Yves Saint Laurent


Stefano Pilati's Spring 2011 YSL collection was a calculated play on rejuvenating the house's codes with a seductive finesse that felt aggressively Parisian and sexually charged in it's severity. Here, charm came via the details: contrast flamenco ruffles, open backs, graphic cut-out waists and dropped shoulders.

Balenciaga


The sci-fi teddy boys that Nicolas Ghesquiere sent out for Spring 2011 had all the provocative and beautifully executed Balenciaga-isms one could hope for. This made for a less daring sense of the avant-garde, where the overall looks can be taken apart for an exciting range of rethought classics, from fitted tux jackets to crisp white button downs, fashion this realistic rarely looks this bold on a runway.

Rochas


Every season needs some vintage flair and Rochas romantic look at 70's Parisian maman chic felt fresh with it's powdery, muted colorway and relaxed fluidity. The pajama separates and fuss-free and unadorned bias cut goddess dresses with a 40's vibe that closed the show were a powerful display of Marco Zanini's vision of soft, subtle luxury.

Carven

Carven seems to have come back out of nowhere with a couple of smart, well-priced collections that present an insouciant Parisian girlishness that's at once arresting and realistic. Rethought relaxed separates came with just the right amount of Lolita loucheness and crisp preppiness, making Carven and it's $400 price points all the more desirable. Spring 2011 had the easy urbane wearability of a 3.1 Phillip Lim collection mixed with the attitude of Charles Anastase's coquettish girl.