Paris Fashion Week is in full force. But it's not just dreamy designers who'll make you cry because you love their clothes but can't afford them showing there. High street supremo H&M put on a show last night – and it was an un_deniably_ hot ticket. While darkness took hold, the enormous, historic Grand Palais was transformed into an abstract cityscape – for a slew of supermodels (Andreea Diaconu, Magdalena Fracowiak, MariaCarla Bosconi, Nadja Bender, Joan Smalls, Izabel Goulart, Malaika Firth and Saskia Luss) to strut their stuff for H&M.
Interestingly, Jourdan Dunn (one of H&M’s New Icons) was on the FROW this time, rather than the catwalk. Looking buff, obviously. We actually witnessed her meeting Jessica Alba. ‘Hey, I’m Jessica’ she drawled. ‘Hiya, I’m Jourdan,’ she replied. Seems famous people intro themselves just the same as we do, then. We also spotted sexpot Josephine de La Baume and fashion crusader Anna Della Russo as well as Mary Charteris – and the mighty Solange was also in residence.
The vibe was ‘modern bohemian’ – so think an easy, rocky wearability with a live (and lively) performance from emerging French singer HollySiz. It all kicked off with safari-style putty separates – button-down shirtdresses were worn with knee-high boots, followed by grungy mini dresses and sporty aviator jackets and cocoon coats. The return of the slip dress (our ’90s favourite) was a big thing for H&M this season and was beautifully rendered in backless mint green and navy, while there was a neat feminine-meets-tomboy aesthetic with disco tuxedo suits, high-neck pantsuits and off-the-shoulder blouses. (FYI, off-the-shoulder is emerging as a ‘new thing’ for AW14.)
Super-fine polonecks were worn with bright red leather trousers and metallic puffa jackets were paired with knee-high boots. And look out for the sheer beaded dresses, too – they were divine. But if this collection was as catwalk worthy as any of the Parisian big guns, it's also worth remembering that these actual clothes (OK, not the ones the models were wearing but you know what I mean) will be hitting a high-street very near you very soon. Well, in six months time, actually. But good things are worth waiting for, right?
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The next morning, it was all eating croissants and ogling the collection close-up. And on further scrutiny we can tell you the shoes, jackets and dresses were the champions – a little zebra handbag looked like something Jerome Dreyfuss would produce and there were some black ankle boots and mules you'll want to add to your wishlist right now. The other bonus: this is a luxe collection in terms of fabrics, too – think silks and cashmeres that make you feel like a grown up.
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We pinned down the Head of Design and H&M alum, Ann-Sofie Johansson, to find out a bit more.
The Debrief: The collection feels quite ’90s meets Studio 54; what was your inspiration behind it?
Ann-Sofie Johansson: We actually referenced so many things. We started off thinking about rocky women like Marianne Faithfull, Kate Moss and Charlotte Gainsbourg. We also looked a lot to the ’90s, to sportswear – we love that easy wearability – and to the '80s illustrator, Toni Viramontes. We basically wanted to take inspiration from strong, fierce women.
DB: It really reminds me of Isabel Marant’s work; it was all really natural – the skin, the hair, the styling.
A-SJ: I think that’s the boho, rock ’n’ roll thing coming through. We wanted it to be really versatile and modern. There’s real variety in the collection – and so many fabrics like velvet, leather, cashmere and silk – but they are all effortless in their wearability. You can pair so many of them together.
DB: What were the big trends for you, for AW14? What will we all be wearing next winter?
A-SJ: It’s all about the contrasts. So, something heavy with something flimsy and light; the camisole dress with the yeti coat, for example. It’s like a club girl who is going back into the club having just popped outside – so she's just wearing a huge coat over her tiny dress. We were also really into the masculine-meets-feminine thing and the juxtaposition of dull and shiny fabrics. In terms of specific pieces, I think jackets are still such a big ‘thing’. We’ve had the aviator and the biker and the big fluffy coat and we just keep developing them further. I think AW14 will be all about flimsy dresses, big jackets, leather trousers and suits with a delicate strappy ‘naked’ shoe and shiny suede boots for a ‘street’ feel.
DB: I’ve also spotted some mules, which I think will be your sell-out shoe. Which three pieces would you pick from the collection today?
A-SJ: The boiler suit in velvet, the blue leather aviator jacket with shearling and the orange cashmere poloneck. The polonecks are sheer and fine, so you can layer them up.
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**DB: And finally, you obviously had Solange, Jessica Alba and Miranda Kerr in H&M Conscious last night, but who else would you love to see wearing your collection? **
A-SJ: Cool girls. It doesn’t matter who they are, I don’t care if their famous, I just wanted to see the cool girls wearing it!
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Pictures: Getty
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.