It's a good moment for Anne Valérie Hash. Other designers have embraced the dress for Spring; Hash focused on tailored separates, which set her apart. That's not to suggest that her show wasn't feminine. For one thing, she has always had an enthusiasm for lingerie colors, and they were present here today, along with more vivid shades of orange and Yves Klein blue. For another, Hash is no fan of boxy, masculine shapes: Her chiffon blouses spill off one shoulder and turn to reveal a thin strap stretched across a bare back. And her trousers (and skirts, for that matter) come with a novel double waistband, the inner one hugging the natural waist and the outer one slouching diagonally from one hip. The results looked put-together, but not precious—which is a pretty accurate way of describing French women's approach to dressing. A bibbed tuxedo shirt in two shades of blue looked particularly striking tucked into a pair of tangerine pants with a relaxed, easy fit. Hash didn't entirely avoid dresses, but they weren't the story here. Inventive, imaginative tailoring was the main event.
