Parisian Street Party for Isabel Marant pour H&M Collection

October 25, 2013

Parisian Street Party for Isabel Marant pour H&M Collection

As the French autumn goes into full swing with the spring/summer 2014 Fashion Week just ended few weeks ago, fashionistas and style makers head to Paris to celebrate another modish designer collaboration by H&M – the Isabel Marant pour H&M collection.

Taking the streets of Paris circa early 1990s as the theme of the party, the event is graced by a retinue of style-setting celebrities such as French actress Audrey Tautou, Mad Men’s January Jones, Mélanie Doutey, Bond girl Olga Kurylenko and Lou Lesage, just to name a few.

Indian actress Freida Pinto of Slumdog Millionaire and The Immortals fame garners the attention of the photographers wearing one of Marant’s designs for H&M – a monotonous geometrical print jacket with rich, colourful embellishments on the neckline and both sides of the shoulders.

Supermodel Alek Wek on the other hand sashays her way to the party in Marant’s knee-length coat with colourful striped knee-length dress.

“This is the second H&M collaboration that I’ve attended,” says Freida Pinto. “I feel it’s important to collaborate with designers who young girls aspire to, but it’s also for girls like me who love shopping at H&M - to make fashion that is not just beautiful and classy but also affordable.”

Amidst a lively urban atmosphere complete with Parisian street elements such as brasseries, neon signs, pizza shops, souvenir shops, epiceries, street vendors and people casually enjoying a stroll in the outdoors, the collection is presented in cinematic settings that mixed images, films and models – reflections of the world according to the fashion designer herself. Live performances by Grandmaster Melle Mel and Rappers Delight, originally of Sugarhill Gang charged the atmosphere.

“We wanted to present the collection in a way that felt real and casual, not a red-carpet extravaganza: this is how I see my work. I design for everybody and am constantly inspired by the world I see around me, so it felt natural to have an urban setting as the backdrop of the event. And it had to be Paris, because the city is part of my DNA," says Isabel Marant.

January Jones, who wears Isabel Marant pour H&M semi-transparent white long-sleeved top with a pair of monotonous geometrical print trousers, is absolutely pleased by the birth of the collection.

“I think it’s really cool when a high-end designer does collaboration like this and makes their designs easily accessible to everyone. The pieces are awesome - and coveted. I know many people that will be waiting in line on the 14^th, it’s exciting,” says Jones.

Speaking of the party, H&M Creative Advisor Margareta van den Bosch agrees that the street atmosphere fits the collection launch perfectly as the collection is the epitome of Parisian street style.

“It felt optimistic and real: a reflection of Isabel Marant’s knack for urban sophistication and bohemia. I think the collection for women, men and teen captures her spirit and I hope our customers are as excited as we are for the launch," adds van den Bosch.

The Isabel Marant pour H&M collection features clothing and accessories collection for women, teenagers, as well as for men – the first attempt for the designer.

The designs are inspired by her signature style - a mix of bohemia and masculine tailoring. The collection will be retailed in 250 H&M stores worldwide, as well as online from 14 November 2013 onwards.

On a separate note, H&M will be opening its second flagship store in Kuala Lumpur at Avenue K on 31 October 2013 (Thursday) at 11 a.m.