Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
être au cœur de la fête
English translation:
is the life of the party
French term
Spain
My passion is your project
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
être au cœur de la fête
"at the heart of the party" is Franglais IMO and "the life and soul of the party" sounds odd to me when applied to fashion.
Thanks for any suggestions you can give!
"La mode XXXX, spontanée, ludique et poétique **est au cœur de la fête. Et la fête est au cœur de** XXXX, qui offre avec générosité des défilés-spectacles, toujours situés dans des lieux insolites et dont chaque inspiration fait date. Pour la première fois, garçons et filles défilent et dansent ensemble sur le podium où s’expriment l’exubérance de YYYY et la poésie de ZZZZ, icônes absolues de XXXX et de la mode de ces années-là."
Jul 10, 2012 15:34: Yolanda Broad changed "Term asked" from "etre au cœur de la fête" to "être au cœur de la fête"
Jul 22, 2012 07:01: emiledgar Created KOG entry
Non-PRO (1): Nikki Scott-Despaigne
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Proposed translations
is the life of the party
bursts/is bursting with life
If this is fashion for kids, then the emphasis on fun may be more important, in which case something closer to party/celebrations might be more suitable.
XXX fashion is spontaneous, fun, lyrical and bursting with life. And life is busting at the seams of XXX, which generously...
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Kate Collyer
: Yes, but "bursting at the seams" sounds like shoddy workmanship given the fashion context!
1 hr
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I think the pun actually works well precisely because of the fashion context; it has a positive connotation related to the brand, not the items of clothing themselves.
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animate
animate
verb (used with object)
1. to give life to; make alive: God animated the dust.
2. to make lively, vivacious, or vigorous; give zest or spirit to: Her presence animated the party.
3. to fill with courage or boldness; encourage: to animate weary troops.
4. to move or stir to action; motivate: He was animated by religious zeal.
5. to give motion to: leaves animated by a breeze.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/animate?s=t
There are, of course, other possibilities. ;-)
France
Translator & Game Loc Specialist | EN-FR
Native in: French (Variant: Standard-France)
Works in: English to French
lies at the core
Psychologist, Court-certified legal
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English
be at the heart of it, an event, a happening
"XXXX is spontaneous, fun, poetic - an event in itself. A true happening. Fashion expressed with generosity where the show becomes a performance, enhanced by out of the ordinary locations. Markedly inspirational!..."
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Note added at 1 hr (2012-07-08 12:36:36 GMT)
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@ Kévin : voici une tentative de rapprochement plus fidèle à l'original, peut-être. Même figure de style, enfin presque, un peu retournée mais là néanmoins. Votre avis???
“… is at the heart of where it’s at. And the heart is what XX is all about, with generous shows…”
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Kévin Bernier
: Au contraire, c'est une figure de style et je pense que c'est capital que l'impression donnée par cette figure soit retranscrite en anglais.
5 mins
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Je vois ce que vous voulez dire, sauf que s'imposer une figure de style, histoire de, ne me plaît pas trop. Je n'en trouve pas une qui fonctionne en anglais. Je préfère une solution avec synonymes : event, happening.//Kévin : nouvelle suggestion. V/avis?
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| agree |
HERBET Abel
: is the heart of the feast
39 mins
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United Kingdom
elegant, eloquent, accurate translation
Native in: English (Variant: UK)
Works in: French to English, German to English, Dutch to English, and 1 more.
to celebrate
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Note added at 1 hr (2012-07-08 13:24:46 GMT)
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or possibly: to salute, to honour
XXXX celebrates fashion, and fashion celebrates XXXX
Celebration is very much a part of...
XXXX fashion ... is in party mood. And partying is very much in the mind of XXXX
Discussion
I guess it depends on the meaning intended. If that meaning is a spiritual one, then indeed "heart" would suit best. However if the paragraph was meant to picture fashion and XXX as a being of some sort, with the party incarnating its essence, then I feel core would suit best.