Fashionista contributor Long Nguyen is the co-founder/style director of Flaunt.

PARIS–“I was really intrigued by this period of Japanese history called Sakoku. It was during the two centuries in the Edo period when the shogun closed the country to outsiders. This isolation enhances the notion of abstraction. The collection was not inspired or based on Japanese clothing, rather I was fascinated by the idea of abstract isolationism. These are silhouettes I have worked on for a long time,” designer Hussein Chalayan said after showing the 12 minutes film he made for his spring collection, titled “Sakoku.”

Mr. Chalayan has directed several films over the last decade, even a conceptual film with little clothes for Tribe Art Commission in late 2003 that was sponsored by the Honda Formula Racing team. That film featured an old female racer going through London and Istanbul in an aerodynamic pod.

Screened against the white walls of a small art gallery tucked away in the 3rd arrondissement, the color film was shot against a black background. A single spotlight shone on model Juju, who wore the 37 looks in various poses: walking, standing, coming in and out of frames. At one point, three ninjas played with the silk pieces attached to her floral bustier dress.

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Fashionista contributor Long Nguyen is the co-founder/style director of Flaunt.

PARIS–What is the designer Riccardo Tisci’s mission at Givenchy? Was he hired to create an entirely new brand, or does he have to incorporate some of the house’s heritage into his thinking? Should his collections have something to reminisce the past? Or is it his prime directive simply to follow his instincts and make fashionable clothes destined for those looking for a chic outfit and great shoes?

In the five years since he took over the creative helm at Givenchy, I think it’s clear that Mr, Tisci is choosing to make it an ultra chic fashion brand, one that is respected among high society. And more importantly, a brand that also has street credibility. It’s critical for the designer to appeal to both ends of the spectrum. Too aristocratic and he will be accused of succumbing to the bourgeoisie Too street and they will say he doesn’t understand or fit into a French high fashion house.

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PARIS–If anyone can make me love Hawaiian prints, it’s Vanessa Bruno. Her easy going, quietly sexy, undeniably French designs make women feel good.

So when Bruno’s Spring 2011 collection, which seemed to be inspired by Hawaii Five O, came down the runway, I wanted nearly every darn thing.

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PARIS–Much like her predecessors, Stella McCartney and Phoebe Philo, Chloe‘s Hannah MacGibbon designs for a specific woman. She’s ageless, but youthful. She’s also impeccably groomed.

And she loves classic silhouettes with a modern edge. As a follow up to last season’s smash hit camel collection, MacGibbon sent out a ballerina-inspired collection: white wrap dresses, taupe body suits paired with pants in the same tone, and a brick red dress coat that added the pop of color spring collections need.

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