Les Benjamins Brings the Street to SILENCIO
The silent stairwell leading down to SILENCIO gave Fashion Editor Matthew Yarborough and I little indication of the mayhem ensuing at what may have been the hippest after-party during the Paris Menswear Fashion Week. After having our picture snapped red-carpet style (check out all the guests' photos on the Les Benjamin's Facebook page), we shimmied through the club's golden corridors, lined with achingly beautiful models, tattooed rappers and fashion it-girls. Making our way to the (normally subdued) lounge area of the David Lynch-conceived salon, we found party-goers dancing on tabletops, drinks in one hand and cigarettes in the other. After hitting the open bar, we bumped it on the dance floor with Rita Ora, Alexander Wang, G-Dragon and Derek Blasberg. Performances by Montaigne Street, ASAP Nast and Section Boyz laid the backdrop for the street-chic scene.
While this latest edition of the near-legendary Les Benjamins' parties did not disappoint, neither did Bunyamin Aydin's AW16 "Ottoman Punk" collection for the brand, which we previewed via an exquisitely-produced film shown in SILENCIO's theater room. Dervishes whirled amongst mohawked models displaying the gender-neutral collection of tunics, joggers, bombers and motos. Turkish traditionalism met icons of rebellion, merging patterns of Istanbul with visages of Sid Vicious, Grace Jones and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Eastern palettes of mustard, canary and cranberry punctuated de riguer city-black, as intricate embroidery mingled with images of grafitti spray-paint.
With dawn nearing, we reflected as we ascended the stairs. Neither the event nor the collection would soon be forgotten.
Learn more about Les Benjamins and SILENCIO. SILENCIO Party Photos by Yulia Shadrinsky Collection Photos by Kevin Wong
