Paul & Joe Menswear A/W 2012

It's funny how things work out sometimes.  When I set off for Paris last month on my whistle-stop trip to fashion week, I actually only had three shows confirmed; I was planning to spend the rest of my two days sight-seeing and visiting friends.  But of course, as soon as I checked into my hotel, I discovered a pile of show tickets I hadn't requested and sadly many of them were for the days I'd be back in London beavering away.  I also received a last minute email from the people at Paul & Joe who invited me to drop by their presentation at the Studio Harcourt which I had seen once before for Romain Kremer's future retrospective.  It's such an iconic location that it's almost impossible to decline, and of course I love any opportunity to look at more clothes, especially from a brand I'm not too familiar with.

Paul & Joe had the photographic studios arranged as they might once have been, with models drifting in and out of relaxed tableaux, even being encouraged to drink a glass or two of champagne to loosen up.  The perfect opportunity to play around with my new camera lens...  The collection itself was a mix of old-school dandy and modern gentleman.  I surprised myself by loving a bright orange polo-neck (I know!) and also quite a classic zip-up cardigan with a grey marl effect (similar to some 3.1 Phillip Lim from last season, I'd say).  The very chic glasses had me regretting my damned 20/20 vision, and not for the first time let me tell you.  One day I'll get to look intelligent in a pair of specs :-(  There were also some interesting fabric choices when it came to the jackets; I was not expecting animal prints from a brand like Paul & Joe but I certainly like it!      

Alas, alack this is the last of my posts from Paris - I'm all dried up!  But in only two short days the London shows will be well under way.  Girls freezing in sheer dresses and sub-zero temperatures while they try to jump 'casually' in front of Scott Schuman.  Boys fighting over who has the dandiest quiff or the highest platform brogues.  Ah, fashion week...

xxx
Duck