Longchamp’s New Fishnet Shopper Is Among A Plethora Of Mouthwatering S/S'21 Hits

Buttery, flaky croissants; warm baguettes; just-out-of-the oven brioche; if those absent from Paris Fashion Week this season were in any need of a reminder of what they’re missing, they needed only to dial in for a Zoom call with Longchamp creative director Sophie Delafontaine. She took over the Parisian grocery store La Maison Plisson to display her spring collection alongside its delightful produce.

Situated in the 1st arrondissement, just along from the Longchamp offices, Maison Plisson is one of the finest gourmet shops in Paris and has plenty in common with Longchamp. Firstly, it’s a Parisian family maison (like Longchamp – Delafontaine is the granddaughter of founder Jean Cassegrain), and secondly this store’s founder Delphine Plisson is fixated on quality, only working with the best suppliers. Ditto Longchamp. It’s easy to see how a friendship was struck up. “I loved the idea of presenting here because we wanted for it to feel like a warm, welcoming moment, and I think we all need that now, to share something with people we love,” explains Delafontaine.

Hanging by the fruit and veg section is Longchamp’s new fishnet bag, a collaboration with Filt, the original, Normandy-based house who created the net bag back in 1860. In six delicious colours it takes its inspiration from the typical grocery bag that you see Parisians carrying everyday but simply elevated with Longchamp’s recognisable leather flap-fastening and handles lifted from its famous Le Pliage carry all. “This grocery shopper is such an iconic Parisian bag; I love the simplicity of it, and I wanted to come back to Paris with a very Parisian spirit, and to give a touch of that Parisian spirit to the world,” says the designer who, for the last few seasons, has presented her collections in New York.

Delafontaine carried that fishnet motif through to ready-to-wear with macramé crop tops and maxi dresses intended as layering pieces, and elsewhere as “bibbed” necklines to punctuate super-feminine floral-printed silk dresses. Other highlights here included utilitarian jumpsuits, dungarees in camel-coloured butter soft suede, and silk blouses with sweet embroidery details.

And good news if we’re still working from home come spring: there are plenty of chic trackpants that you’d feel good about leaving the house in, you know, should you need to go grab some groceries. In other bag news? The Brioche, nestled here in the bakery section, is bound to be a hit. Quilted, and super lightweight it takes its name from the rich French bun, says Delafontaine: “Light and delicate with a gentle puff.” Mouth-watering in equal measure.