PARIS - When fashion editors put down their pens halfway through a catwalk show, it's always cause for concern.
This was the case at Hedi Slimane's disappointing debut at Yves Saint Laurent — a rather confused ode to excess that used fringing, leather, lacing, feathers, sequins, pendants, skinny menswear tailoring, baggy pants, capes, pendants and almost everything under the sun.
Monday's spring-summer 2013 show had a gaucho feel and was served in unflattering, floppy Stetson hats — that sometimes blocked out the models' faces.
The pressure on the former Dior Homme designer Slimane — who was appointed in March — must have been huge.
World media have pitted Slimane in a battle of designers against Christian Dior's new man, Raf Simons, who was appointed a month later.
Here Slimane tried to impress with the no-holds-barred approach — but it may have given the upper hand to his rival.
