Tracing designs: The Traits Tres Mode exhibition runs at L’Espace until September 29. — VNS Photo Truong Vi

Want to look at more pictures of women who are prettier, skinnier and better dressed than you? If so, the French fashion-inspired exhibit at L’Espace should be your next stop on Trang Tien Street.

Sixty pictures line the walls of a surprisingly catchy show by 15 young French painters, including Monsieur Z, Cedric Rivrain and Jean-Philippe Delhomme.

Traits Tres Mode (Very Fashionable Features) opened last Friday as the first big collective exhibition devoted to illustrations of French fashion. Audiences can see diverse designs where unrelated drawings raise their voices together.

"Many of the women seem expressionless, but are very much alive. The styles are classic and new at the same time," said one visitor.

"The exhibit bring to audiences a colourful and unique view of the works by 15 designers and famous fashion illustrators. Thanks to the talent of those designers, illustration art renewed itself and became a true artistic trend. They are the beginners for the new fashion illustrating trend in France, a trend that has never existed in paintings of contemporary art, attracting the attention of French press and the advertisement field," says Brigitte Girardin, French Minister delegate for Co-operation, Development and Francophony.

"This renovation in the field of design and illustration is one different aspect of contemporary artistic creation in France, the field that we want to develop and present wholly to the world, and in particular to Viet Nam," she adds.

Visitors enjoyed the latest collections from three young upcoming designers: Dieu Anh, Hoang Ngan and Ha Linh Thu, on a special stage designed by artist Nguyen Duy Quang for the opening night.

After Ha Noi, the exhibit heads south to HCM City at IDECAF at 31 Thai Van Lung Street, District 1, from October 3-10.

Organised by Cultures-france, the exhibit runs until September 29 at L’Espace, French Cultural Centre, 24 Trang Tien Street, Ha Noi. — VNS