Just like Cole Porter, Pierre Mahéo loves Paris in the springtime, in the fall, in the winter when it drizzles and in the summer when it sizzles – just like it’s doing right now.
His shows are a reflection of his affection for the city, and a snapshot of life on the streets, viewed from some of his favorite haunts. Last season he staged the show at his favorite neighborhood hangout, Brasserie Rouquet on Boulevard Saint Germain, where he invited guests to drink Champagne, nibble on nuts and watch models weave through the tables wearing his latest designs.
This season Mahéo was back on the streets, staging an open-air show on rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs and wondering aloud what Paris would be like if it were close to the sea, like Barcelona or Marseilles.
“You’d need super-lightweight clothing and to make sure there’s a lot of air around the body,” said the designer, who sent out a cooling lineup of resort wear ideal for the steamy Paris weather.
His models wandered up and down the street in leisurely manner, dressed in lightweight “parachute” poplin jackets and drawstring trousers, some of which were rolled at the bottom; ultra-lightweight seersucker tops, and tunics with skinny pajama stripes.
They wore flip-flops and bandana-like headbands, and accesorized with long necklaces adorned with shells and rope-like belts made from leftover bits of fabric.
Mahéo also designed for when the sun goes down and the breeze starts to roll in from the sea. For cooler weather there were suede or cotton workwear jackets and super-light leather short suits in a calming palette of cocoa, pebble, black and marine blue.
Mahéo fully embraced the ease of seaside dressing. During a post-show interview, he pointed to his own comfy, wide-leg chinos and said, “When you find something like this, you don’t ever want to go back to tight.”
