Click here for more photos.
Credit: Catwalking.com

Creativity and taste can at times be intensely personal, we fight to be professional but if a designer touches close to our personal likes it is hard to be dispassionate. Monsieur Chandron produced a collection which this viewer enjoyed, but I am willing to bet many others would not relish its intensely French attitude.

Marie Antoinette was mentioned but for all the world Saint Laurent was what came to mind - a floor length coat and pants in sharp black with a white ruffle front tuxedo shirt, a short ecru lace shift, a severe suit with capelet detail, or a dazzling bugle beaded shift dress all had a strength of silhouette and character which evokes a certain Saint Laurent style without being either derivative or slavish.

The draped black jersey evening dress and tailored evening capes were very polished in shape and construction and the hint of leopard with a cape and sequined dress was witty and added just a dash of humour. Plaques or cameos were a recurrent theme both a pinned decoration in 3 D or as subtle insertions which almost resembled military cockades from the french revolution.

So what was the overall impression? Good chic clothes, some miscalculations with the odd piece but to sum up a very promising show with some stand out pieces for the right customer.

Report by Tony Glenville

Click here for more show reports