The Slimane and Simons Dynasties

Beginning a reign at two of the most historic and revered French fashion houses is an endeavor that I am not sure I would personally want to take on. Honoring the aesthetic of a line's origins to please the snarkiest of fashion historians while infusing it with a fresh perspective to gain the interest of a new generation of jaded consumers is no easy task. Nevertheless, Hedi Slimane took on the challenge at Yves Saint Laurent and Raf Simons embraced the opportunity at Christian Dior. Both presented solid collections at Paris Fashion Week with some looks we really loved. If there was a point of constructive criticism from us, it would be that Simons may have steered a bit too far away from Dior's origins while Slimane stuck a little too closely to YSL's roots. Nevertheless, we know these are two of the most talented designers out there that can handle carrying on the sartorial torch. A good beginning for Slimane and Simons. We continue to look forward to the future. And while we normally like to share one favorite look from each collection, we thought these two debuts justified full video clips. Take a look and tell us what you think. Did Slimane and Simons meet the challenge at Saint Laurent and Christian Dior? Do you agree with our assessment? More PFW coverage to come.

Slimane's Saint Laurent Spring 2013

Simons's Christian Dior Spring 2013