Saint Laurent FW 2013 Presentation Fails – But Not Completely

Looking on my twitter feed this morning, I saw tweets regarding Hedi Slimane’s lastest show for Saint Laurent. FINE fine we got over that hurdle of him axing the ‘Yves’, but has Slimane’s attempt at modernizing the brand gone too far?

“What is one to make of Hedi Slimane’s latest showing for Saint Laurent? Many guests left the overtly California-grunge-inspired collection, shown at the Grand Palais, in a state that ranged from amused puzzlement to appalled disbelief.”

“One top international editor wondered if what she had just witnessed was an extravagantly produced prank.”

Wow okay. Jabs.

Others resorted to sarcasm. “Am I watching Saint Laurent or Topshop?” tweeted an LA Times editor, while the meme “All Saints Laurent” percolated on Facebook.

No matter how you slice it, the collective response to Slimane’s second effort for the storied label was…OVERWHELMINGLY negative. But it’s important to note by whom. Mostly by editors that have seen many a fashion week presentation, and perhaps even YSL when it was still YSL. Long-time followers, those who would be understandably shocked to witness Slimane send scantily clad models down the runway in ‘cheap looking leathers’.  Especially after so many amazing shows these past few fashion weeks, this presentation sticks out like a hooker on her corner.

Then I thought, well OK, Slimane might be on to something here. With all that re-brand and re-vamp, maybe vamping up this FW 2013 season is intentional to reach a different consumer, a different fashion crowd. Maybe, someone like, me and people my age.

Then I read: “Only a small number of followers were approving, including celebrity guests Kirsten Dunst, Pixie Geldorf and Allison Mossheart, as well as Leandra Medine, aka The Man Repeller, who in a seemingly positive tweet exclaimed: “You’re doing it, Saint Laurent! (Insert resounding YES! here).”

Doing what? Giving what the next generation of fashion tastemakers what they positively respond to, relate to and what they could see themselves wearing. It’s been said that those expecting Slimane to keep up the traditional YSL look can “piss off”. These are the clothes that he wears, that the people he hangs out with wears. It’s rock n roll. It’s leather and heavy boots. Just look at this it-bag, and look at who is carrying it. Could this be a foreshadowing into the future of fashion reviews and fashion itself? Is Hedi just ahead of his times, perhaps shunning all that YSL stands for, but in doing so, lining up a fresh crop of to-be editors? Or at least, build a positive re-pore with those who’s opinions matter in the ever-important sphere of online? Sure the collection is really nothing special, and yes it reminds us of those TopShop things and even All Saints. But that’s what’s pop, as in popular. And that’s the point. Go pop, BE pop, or get out.

via BOF