FASHION Magazine

I woke up this morning to the sound of urban construction at about 6:45 a.m.—my loft is conveniently located between the sites of two new high-rise condos. As I began checking my phone for messages, I realized my memory card was almost full and I needed to purge some useless crap I have collected over the year. I began deleting unrecognizable phone numbers, dated memos and files, only to realize that just wasn’t cutting it. It then dawned on me to check my media file. Wow! I had everything: over 200 photos, music I’ve never listened to, and a number of episodes of Jpod. As I began looking through my photos, I came across ones I took at the Fall 2008 Chanel show back in late February. There were photos of the models parading around a carousel in a very beige collection of tweeds, bouclé and tulle (original). Then I came across a series of photos I took of the Olsen twins, who were sitting next to me in the front row. Worse, I took these photos while the show was unfolding. What was I doing taking photos of these alabaster white, enigmatic twins in the middle of one of the most important collections of the season?

Aloha!

At this point you’re getting to know me and my obsessions: funky fashion, France (its cakes, luxe, createurs and ironic humeur) and of course, sun and sea. So when I heard that the Bay was launching a new style department, Maison B., which carries hot brands like Tara Jarmon, Andy Thé-Anh and Ça va de Soi, I immediately cancelled my yearly shopping trip to Paris (but not my Grenada escapade!). We definitely need more cool brands like these (and soon, with the new TNT store in Westmount, we’ll be splurging on amazing stuff from my favorite French designers, too, but it’s a secret scoop).

We open in Paris! Lauren and Whitney get off the plane and meet their driver. "What do we want to do?" Whitney asks, foolishly assuming that they will have any free time. "You have your itinerary," the driver says. The girls consult it, see that they’re supposed to pick up shoes for two of the Crillon Ball’s debutantes… and decide to go to Alberta Ferretti and get their own gowns instead. Paris certainly hasn’t changed their ability to follow directions!

Dear readers,As if it was not frantic enough to start a new job as the Montreal editor of FASHION (cocktail parties galore, lunch dates, an intoxication of beauty treatments, weekly trips to the hairdresser and dry cleaner), the next few weeks coming up are looking particularly intense.

Paris: Day eight

By Sarah Casselman

Shown: Nina Ricci Fall 2008. Photography by Peter Stigter.

So sad that fashion week is drawing to an end. I have truly loved every moment–from the mad crush at the tent entrance to the metallic accents on coats, bags and shoes to the mid-afternoon macaroon fashion refuels.

By Sarah Casselman

Shown: Chloé Fall 2008. Photography by Peter Stigter.

Back to the Accessories Show on Saturday morning with my Starbucks in tow (at this point in the week, caffeine and gel foot cushions are a fashion girl’s best friend). Ran over to the Chloé show and managed to squeeze into an amazing seat (perfect view of Anna and Bee) before the show began.

By Sarah Casselman

Shown: Chanel Fall 2008. Photography by Peter Stigter.

Literally jumped out of bed this morning. Kind of felt like Christmas morning…reality check: it was the Chanel show. Ooh la la…total crush of the cool (Claudia Schiffer), as I grabbed my seat in front of the giant iconic Chanel merry-go-round. Pearls, tweed jackets, fresh blowouts and chain-handled bags surround me–think I am in heaven.

By Sarah Casselman

Shown: Stella McCartney Fall 2008. Photography by Peter Stigter.

Started the day with Stella McCartney – big celeb draw (Kanye et fiancée, Twiggy looking very chic in her beret, Sir Paul), although judging from the mélange of oversize sunnies, there had definitely been some late-night revelry.

Photographer Peter Stigter shoots on the streets of Pairs during Fall 2008 fashion week. Click here to see photos.

The post At the shows: Paris Fall 2008 appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

By Sarah Casselman

Shown: Karl Lagerfeld Fall 2008. Photography by Peter Stigter.

Early start to the day, but somehow the lack of sleep is manageable, due to the prospect of seeing Kaiser Karl at Lagerfeld. Carine Roitfeld and photog Patrick Demarchelier are the last to be seated and then the show begins. Funny how suddenly, when the music starts and I see the models take the runway, sleep is the last thing on my mind. See photos from this show.

By Sarah Casselman

Shown: Tsumori Chisato Fall 2008. Photography by Peter Stigter.

A rainy start to the day – oh mon Dieu, my freshly flat-ironed locks! – so I snuck in a grande Starbucks to wakey wakey while reading the WWD review of Dior yesterday.

By Sarah Casselman

Shown: Dior Fall 2008. Photography by Peter Stigter.Started the day with a croquet-madame and a café au lait outside near the Palais Royal. Frenchy females are wearing: black ballet flats, wayfarers (still), black mini capes, leather bombers, chain-handled lady bags or everything-but-the-kitchen-sink totes.