Paris Men’s Fashion Week: Lenny Kravitz pushed out of front row

A model walks the runway during the Saint Laurent show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Menswear Spring/Summer 2015 on June 29, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images
Powered by automated translation

Wearing his customary shades, the cooler-than-cool Lenny Kravitz sat in pride of place at the centre of Saint Laurent’s front row.

Not for long.

Uber-young skinny groupies, selected by designer Slimane to set the tone for his boho show, entered last-minute and sat down Woodstock-style on the floor in front of all the A-listers. It was perhaps the first time a star like Kravitz had to sit behind someone at a catwalk show.

He didn’t seem to care, rocking his head to the music by Mystic Braves. Maybe Kravitz was impressed by one of the 1960s looks on a model with an afro hairstyle and leather waistcoat that channelled his idol, Jimmy Hendrix?

It was Tex-Mex meets West Coast at Slimane’s latest show — with more than a little drop of hippy flower-power.

The mix somehow worked, producing a more coherent and stylish show than in previous seasons.

Fashion insiders are used to Slimane’s now-signature shimmering Vegas statement jackets and sparkling disco tuxedos.

But here in Sunday’s pulsating offering they joined striped Mexican ponchos and skinny matador trousers embroidered down the side. That was the Mex.

The Tex came in looks that would not have been out of place on Clint Eastwood in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, such as a beige shawl and tan suede cowboy boots.

As ever, the ‘60s and ‘70s infused the fashion vocabulary, with ubiquitous Woodstock-era styles — ethnic, hippy pendants swung on a naked torso with an embroidered waistcoat and neat black lapels.

There were some great looks, but — as ever — is getting a hippy, boho-look worth a multi-thousand dollar price tag?