By Marcellous L. Jones

September 7, 2009


Paris, France - The name Christian Lacroix has always been one of the season’s most anticipated shows on the calendar, haute couture or ready-to-wear. This season, however, is undoubtedly the most anticipated since his solo debut on the runways 22 years ago. This season may very well prove to be the collection that represents the death march of another fashion great into the pantheon of fashion legends. This collection may indeed be the absolute last one presented on any runway under the Christian Lacroix label.

Presented before an audience of nearly 200 guests, the new collection featuring 24 pieces is of a dramatic chic and elegance against a backdrop of dark colors such as black, navy blue and gray. This lends an unusual glory of a funeral procession. The models all wore their hair in chignons covered by black jersey and finished off with large diamante brooches. It lends a certain element of distinction to the unfolding sad drama. However as a reminder of the true grandeur of the house, exuberant burst of colors can be found sprinkled about here and there in some way or another.

As the reality of the house’s likely demise became more known, many stepped up to the plate to make sure that Christian Lacroix’s last haute couture show would be as grand and as elegant as every Lacroix outing before it. Such elegance as this would need a helping hand this time around. Both Taroni and Gandini, both suppliers to top luxury houses around the world, provided fabrics so the designs could be made into a final reality. The models all volunteered to hit the catwalk for free. Odile Gilbert provided the hair and Stéphane Marais provided the makeup. Bruno Frisoni and Inès de la Fressange, both creative directors at Roger Vivier, supplied the shoes for the show. And Olivier Saillard stepped t...

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