Daily Front Row

2010 March 4

It's Raining Gold!

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Balmain Fall 2010
SWAN View Gallery

(PARIS) “This is pretty good substitute for Versailles, non?” said an elated Christophe Decarnin backstage at The Grand hotel. Indeed, this might have been the poshest backstage and front row setting in fashion show history, thanks to rich scarlet carpets, polished chandeliers, and luxe seating. But when your collection is based on feasts of some of history’s flashiest royals, anything less would not suffice, and Thailand's fashion-obsessed Princess Siriwanwaree Nareera ate up almost every look as it came down the runway.

“I’ve been to Balmain couture for years and years, and this is my first time at ready-to-wear here,” offered Danielle Steele from her front row perch. “Although, I had plenty of unpacking to do once I came to Paris. I live here partially, so I always bring extra luggage. And my daughters Vanessa, Victoria, and Samantha are all in town so it’s always nice to have some ultimate mom and daughter time.”

While Steele was one of the few non-editors in the front row (those included Anna, Glenda, Ingrid and Sandy, as well as Carine, who doesn’t seem to sit front row without Jonathan Newhouse lately) an all star mannequin line-up hit the runway. And many were already thinking of post-fashion week plans following what seemed to have been a never-ending season so far. “My dream was to always to go to Bali,” mused Natasha Poly. “But that just always seems too out of reach maybe because of my long flight.” “I want to hit some slopes after Paris,” said Anna Selezneva. “Believe it or not, snowboarding has become my new obsession.”

As for Jac? She just wanted some sleep and some tea at Balmain. “I feel really sick,” she said. “Maybe all the travel is getting to me. Nothing hurts, but my I’m  gradually losing my voice. But I can’t complain. I mean, we look like rock queens today!”
VALENTINE UHOVSKI