Front Row at Balmain!
(PARIS) The last time you ventured to The Grand Hotel, it was July 2007, and Elie Saab was unveiling his latest diaphanous, ultra-femme, gown-heavy couture collection. Today, you returned--and why? Christophe Decarnin, of course, who brought perennially rocker-chic Balmain to this gilded, marbled ballroom on the rue Scribe after showing at the Ritz last season. The show was scheduled to start at 3 p.m., and a flock of bold-shouldered rockers (both male and female) traipsed through the hotel's courtyard dining room as guests enjoyed a 48-euro petit dejeuner americain (on the late side) and watched slightly dumbstruck. As KCD brass forced attendees to take their seats, the front-row hierarchy revealed itself to unusual effect. Carine Roifteld and Emmanuelle Alt sandwiched Patrick Demarchelier--nothing strange there--although to Roitfeld's left was Suzy Menkes. The American section was partout and relegated mostly to the back row (EICs excepted).
As classical music swooned in the background--Debussy? Beethoven?--a commotion beguiled the increasingly antsy crowd. "Victoire! Victoire!" shouted a bodyguard inexplicably yet heroically as he ushered in Rihanna at 3:32 p.m. and directed her to the seat next to Anna Dello Russo...that was occupied by Bill Cunningham. The legendary Timesman was removed from his perch, although as tends to happen, he was accommodated in another front-row seat. Rihanna, sporting a smile and a delightful bustier, nodded politely at Dello Russo (in a beige silk wrapdress to her right) and Michael Stipe (in something nondescript to her left) as the lights dimmed and Daria opened the show at 3:35.
Decarnin only used approximately twenty models, but all were top. Werbowy was quickly succeeded by Anja Rubik, Anna Selezneva, Natasha Poly, Isabeli Fontana, Sasha Pivavarova, and Freja Beha, all in warrior-goddess garb in a bronzed, burnished palette. "Viva Daria!" one European attendee said as the model closed the show and Decarnin (adorably in a leather jacket) came out to greet the fans. Viva Daria, viva Balmain, viva Paris...
ASHLEY BAKER
