PARIS, Jul 5, 2006/ FW/ --- Last Jul 2, Pierre Cardin turned 84, two days later, he presented his Spring / Summer 2007 menswear collection via an installation at his new space at Rue Saintmerri. And, though opinions might vary on his collection, one thing is for sure; Pierre Cardin is still as creative and as energetic after 60 years in fashion.

Showing his signature geometric style, jackets were ‘punched’ with circles and diamonds. They were also cut into vertical or horizontal strips. Collars and lapels were oversized, and of course, a geometric shape was used as an embellishment.

It was signature Pierre Cardin, the Cardin that the fashion world had known for the past 60 years. The installation was a retrospective of sorts, as there were framed illustrations of his past work shown in the venue. But, the menswear collection is ‘of today,’ very contemporary, though still bearing Pierre Cardin’s style.

‘When I came into fashion, everyone has a style. I have a distinctive mode, and so did Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent. But fashion designers nowadays do not have style. They get inspiration from the theater, from history and from everywhere else, put them all together and call it a collection,’ Pierre Cardin told reporters as he was giving impromptu interviews during the presentation.

The statement might sound like a criticism, yet at 84 with 60 years of fashion experience in his belt, plus a very successful business empire with an estimated turnover of some six billion euros (7.5 billion dollars) per year, Pierre Cardin had earned the right to critique the current crop of designers.

When asked about his fashion empire and the criticisms about him about over-licensing his name, he answered, ‘I have no regrets. It has made me very wealthy. And if I have to go back in time and start over, I’ll do it again.’

During the presentation, although there were several press attachés present to answer questions and entertain the guests, Pierre Cardin was also welcoming the attendees and ‘guiding’ them throughout the collection explaining every piece and answering questions along the way.

His energy and dynamism belies his age. And even when he sits down in the final room, it becomes a mini press conference as reporters and photographers line up for an interview and photo op.

And like all free flowing interviews, topics that were discussed were not necessarily about the collection being presented. With the succession at Dior Homme in the mind of the fashion flock that day, a reporter asked Mr. Cardin what he thinks of the situation and whom he thinks should take over Dior.

With laughter and a smile, Pierre Cardin said, ‘I don’t know and I don’t care. It’s not my problem.’

Everyone in the room laughed of course. Pierre Cardin is currently the grand old man of fashion. With a business empire that includes restaurants and theaters, aside from his fashion house, the day-to-day operations keep him more than busy.

And with a large retrospective of his work scheduled to be on display in Paris’s Fashion Museum at the Galliera in 2008, Pierre Cardin has to wade through over 10,000 items of his own work collected over the past six decades.

Even with a full staff and a curator, that is a lot of work that needs full attention in the next two years.

Pierre Cardin

Pierre Cardin

Pierre Cardin

Pierre Cardin

Pierre Cardin