Russian super model Natalia Vodianova took her first runway bow as a designer on Monday in Paris, unveiling her lingerie line for Etam, and the hottest event so far of Paris haute couture week.
Hilary Swank marched in past a huge phalanx of paparazzi to join Eva Herzigova, designer Giambattista Valli, and French movie stars Melanie Laurent and Romain Duris.
Besides the undies, the crowd was lured by the chance to enjoy a mini performance by Charlotte Gainsbourg, the chanteuse of the moment. Cuts from her latest hot album, IRM, made up the sound track of Gucci’s highly acclaimed men’s wear show last week in Milan.
Staged on a custom made catwalk above the swimming pool of the Ritz Hotel, the show was packed to the gills. Literally hundreds of fans were crammed onto the ornate wrought iron stairways.
“Adorable, sexy and fun,” was Swank’s comment on the show, as she dined on lobster, risotto and champagne at a VIP post show dinner in the Hotel d’Evreux, a grand mansion located next door to the swanky hotel.
Looking pretty devastating in a blue Elie Saab dress, Swank enjoyed the repast with the coolest looking crowd in the Paris couture; from Monaco princess Charlotte Casiraghi to the most It of the London It Gals, Alice Dellal.
The actual show kicked off with Australian model, and current squeeze of Orlando Bloom, Miranda Kerr, in a skimpy pink bra and pants combination, under, well, a straw boater.