PARIS, Feb 27, 2007/ FW/ --- ‘Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch... From the top! a-Five, six, seven, eight!’ A ballet dancer at the Girbaud show today underlined Marithé + François Girbaud’s Fall 2007 theme of taking the clothing vocabulary to the dance world.

With the soundtrack of ‘A Chorus Line’ sang both in English and French on the background, Girbaud sent an androgynous collection on the runway wherein the masculine-feminine or feminine-masculine silhouettes were blurred, echoing today’s subtle ambiguity between man and woman’s clothing.

Architectural and urban, dresses with balloon petticoats, bustier-inspired tops, Capri-length trousers, slouchy carpenter pants, it was poetic urban wear with details like ribbons in denim jeans and small embroideries on the dresses.

Trapeze cots cover tutus, corset belts hold up strappy trousers, jackets with rounded volumes courtesy of quilting, wide trousers that are high-waisted – the collection was vibrant, dynamic and youthful as Marithé + François Girbaud played with volumes and textures.

Pockets were 3-D appearing as squares on the hemline. Sometimes, the pockets make up the skirt itself, like the brown mini paired with a beige short-cropped top. Wide strips of fabric attached to the waist held rounded satchel pockets on the other end. They moved gently as the model walked, alluring and inviting like the graceful ballerina in red.

But the collection is not just about clothes. Zippered pumps with burst two-tones, flat studded boots and shoes were the accessories of choice, must-have items to carry on the look and image of urban grace and youthfulness.

It’s like dancing when no one is looking… Then again, who cares if someone looks. After all, it’s all about the joy of living and the pleasure of being alive.

Marithé + François Girbaud

Marithé + François Girbaud

Marithé + François Girbaud

Marithé + François Girbaud