Marithé + François Girbaud: Urban Wear Has Never Been This Chic
By Michelle Taylor
Photos by Javier Mateo

PARIS, Mar 3, 2004/ FW/ --- Girbaud’s “Soft City” collection put urban wear into chic category that uptown girls and guys will be wearing it come fall like their downtown siblings.

Using classic French design as basis such as the romantic looks of Louis XIV’s court, Marithé and François Girbaud put leather on the forefront.

Twisted, pleated, colored, re-dyed, waxed, folded, laser scarified, perfumed or polished – leather has never looked so chic, contemporary and a must-have in your wardrobe.

The silhouette is slim, yet very comfortable. Cute mini skirts and dresses are paired with legwarmer boots and jeweled ballet pumps.

Jackets with upturned collars serve as outerwear for the bustier dresses in stretch materials.

Low-rise pants held by big belts and buckles, paired with cowboy boots in laser printed leather redefined the meaning of “urban cowboy.”

Stand out look this season includes the pants cut at the thighs for about 3 inches, and the lower half attached to it using buckles. Then, there are the diagonal zippers as closures for jackets and tops.

Women’s looks are very feminine, while the men’s looks are totally masculine.

Commenting on how they are able to separate the men’s looks from the women’s look and still make it into one collection, Marithé Girbaud said, “The design teams are divided into two. For the men’s looks, the Men’s design team is composed of all men. For the women’s looks, the design team is composed of all women. That gives the men’s collection a very masculine feel, and the women’s looks a very feminine feel.”

Backstage, looking at the collection up close and personal, the details on the clothes make this collection a sure winner.

Contrasting topstitching, darning, jacquard braids and worked belts give yet even more personality to this Soft City collection.

Marithé + François Girbaud

Marithé + François Girbaud

Marithé + François Girbaud

Marithé + François Girbaud