Saint Laurent's all-black daywear and 80s-inspired eveningwear dazzles under the light of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

Fashionista's braved snow and minus six degrees to watch Saint Laurent's latest instalment 
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Emma McCarthy28 February 2018

It was minus six degrees and snowing when Saint Laurent invited the international fashion press to its show at an outdoor venue in Paris last night.

Though as the crowd gathered at the city’s Trocadero Fountain, many clad in puffer jackets and moon boots, they breathed a collective sigh of relief as they were ushered inside an enormous spotlit pavilion, which was purpose built - and heated - just for the occasion.

There aren’t many brands capable of commandeering such a iconic tourist site, which stands in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. But, then again, Saint Laurent is not any ordinary brand.

With a diehard fanbase of rock ’n’ roll royalty and record revenue growth, the Kering-owned super-brand is a member of the luxury fashion elite - a fact showcased by its stellar front row which spanned supermodels Kate Moss, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Amber Valetta, along with the creme de la creme of French film from Charlotte Gainsbourg to Catherine Deneuve.

Vincent Gallo and Kate Moss
Getty Images

Keen to uphold its star reputation, designer Anthony Vaccarello - now in his fourth season at the helm following the departure of Hedi Slimane, who made the contentious decision to drop 'Yves' from the name - ensured the clothes on the catwalk marched to the beat of their own drum.

Saint Laurent AW18
EPA

The first 30 outfits, accompanied by thunderous music and a dazzling light display, were defiantly and entirely black.

They spanned tiny leather hot pants and wide brim hats, ruffle-collar blouses and ankle grazing capes, rhinestone-encrusted tux jackets and spray-on skinny jeans. It was the uniform of the Saint Laurent customer, expertly packaged in the always in vogue shade, and delivered with killer accessories including high platform ankle boots and statement plumed stilettos.

Saint Laurent AW18
EPA

There was a brief intermission for menswear, with leather jackets, velvet suits and furry deerstalker hats in abundant supply.

Finally, Vaccarello closed the show with VIP cocktail hour attire. Structural LDBs soon gave way to a series of vibrant, crystal-encrusted floral micro-mini dresses. Some featured plunging necklines, others boasted Eighties power shoulders and all of them required superstar-status confidence.

Saint Laurent AW18
Getty Images

As the audience left Vaccarello’s bubble and stepped back into the freezing night, they were greeted with a picture-perfect shot of the Eiffel Tower just in time for a special glittering performance. Of course, it’s all in a night’s work for Saint Laurent.

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