Leonard: Silky Wave chic

One of Paris' greatest print stories in France is the house of Leonard, which this season went on a surfing safari.

Designer Christine Phung even developed a Leonard tropical fauna surf board and Lycra wetsuit. We have rarely seen a lady surfer look cooler negotiating a left-hand break.

Phung’s models also looked fresh, fit and fun whilst exiting the classic chariot of true surfers – a Volkswagen mini van. Attired in exotic jumpsuits, matelassé wrap coats; and beautiful beach ponchos, as they swam and danced on a beach just south of Biarritz.

“It’s all inspired by the Hawaiian shirt. We took some prints from our archives and recolored them digitally. And I think that really worked well,” said creative director Christine Phung, in her last collection for the house. After eight seasons, Phung is exiting to become a fashion consultant for an as-yet-undisclosed international brand.

In a witty video entitled Silky Wave, Leonard turned a battered old pier into a novel catwalk. Hand-painted designs used in beach shorts and shirts, swimsuits and bra tops; and for sunset cocktails at the Hotel du Palais, some silken great part-dresses.

Though the day always ends with a final surf, as a leggy beauty, professional surfer Nina Reynal, rides the azure waves in swimsuit and soft silk plissé dress.

Roll on summer. The Leonard gal is suddenly newly hip.

Leonard: Silky Wave chic

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