Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant have quickly raised the profile of their tiny collection via the competition circuit. They won last year’s ANDAM First Collections Prize and are on the short list for this year’s LVMH Prize. The duo’s third collection displayed their nimbleness with incorporating conceptual ideas — this time, round shapes — into real clothes. “The purpose is to put work into the details but in normal shapes,” said Vaillant.
A patchwork leather jacket made from circles of kangaroo leather and velvet suede in black and silver was the season’s power piece, while the rest of the lineup consisted of tailored sport classics quietly detailed with curved touches. Fresh, feminine takes on traditional men’s shirts stood out. Some were traced in an undulating ruffle around the neckline and shoulders with delicate buttons down the back; others had more starched ruffles around the arms and wrists. Basic sweaters were given a cool, subtle boost with extra-long sleeves that could be tied around the wrist. Such little things made a big difference.