For this Paris Fashion Week, vintage fashion expert Didier Ludot invited London-based designer Osman Yousefzada to showcase his most emblematic creations in the windows of the collector’s Palais Royal boutique.

Back in 1975, Monsieur Ludot virtually invented the market for vintage in Paris with his eponymously named shop in the Palais Royal. Over the years Ludot has built an impressive and renowed empire devoted to vintage haute couture. We are talking about pieces spanning 1920 to 1980 designed by Ludot’s venerated masters like Schiaparelli, Madame Grés, Chanel, Balenciaga, Dior, Lanvin…

Twice a year during fashion week, Didier Ludot invites new designers to be mixed with his famous finds, creating a dazzling dialogue between the past and the present. Having previously showcased creations from New Yorker designer Zac Posen and French ‘enfant chéri’ Alexis Mabille, this season Didier Ludot has asked Osman Yousefzada to exhibit alongside the works of master 20th century couturiers like Dior and Mugler in the six windows of his boutique.

The young British designer with Afghan origins launched his label in 2005 after training at St Martins. He’s known for his well tailored and structured clothes balanced with masterful draping inspired by his interest in ethnicity and ancient costumes. Osman has just shown his AW09 collection on schedule at the Science Museum during London Fashion Week.

Ludot and Yousefzada met after the latter's last SS09 show in London. Didier Ludot immediately saw some similarities between Osman’s collections and the biggest French designers of the 80s like Thierry Mugler and Claude Montana. Looking at the fantastic visionary windows currently displayed at the Palais Royal’s boutique it is pretty obvious Ludot and Yousefzada had to meet. Dazed Digital got to see the exhibition at the cocktail reception held in Paris and chat with Osman about his first Paris experience.

Dazed Digital: You’ve just shown your AW09 collection in London, how does it feel to be showing your work in Paris next to Christian Dior?
Osman Yousefzada: It is a quite crazy, an amazing honour to sit alongside Christian Dior and Montanna, Didier wanted to make a dialogue about the way I use construction.

DD: What about the jewellery? Are they yours?
OY: I have just been designing jewellery, and tied up with a fine jewellery manufactuer to make everything. So watch this
space.. we will be launching something very soon.

DD: We have just spotted Katy Perry - who else has been wearing your dresses?
OY: Thandie Newton, Kate Moss, Charlize Theron, Alice Delal, Kerry Washington, Anna Friel, Tamsin Egerton, Natalia
Voda, Little Boots, Mary Kate Olsen!

DD: What are your plans now? Are you staying in Paris to see any shows?
OY: I just saw Rick Owens, which was amazing, really fresh.

The exhibition is taking place from March 4th to 14th at Didier Ludot, 20-24 galerie de Montpensier, Palais Royal, 75001, Open Mon.- Sat. 10:30am to 7pm