Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week Highlights

Elie Saab

The highest end clothes at the highest prices made their way to runways during the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. These pieces of art wowed the crowd, one designer after the other; but since we can’t talk about them all, here’s a quick recap with the best of the best.

Christian Dior was the most awaited show, with front row seats filled with A-list celebs who wanted to check out Raf Simon’s debut collection (the designer that replaced John Galliano). Simon’s show was homage to Dior’s transformation – featuring A-line gowns and coats with cinched waists, in solids, restrained florals and a beautiful astral tie-dye.

Christian Dior

Valentino focused on sensuality by using elements of velvet and chiffon in deep blue and black dresses, with touches of metallics and pleats.

Georgio Armani Privé featured the typical neat styles, with a surprising palette of colors including powder blue, pale lilac and hot pink paired with black. Not all pieces were a success, but the collection was quite chic.

Georgio Armani Privé

Karl Lagerfield for Chanel displayed traditional suits with big plaids and checks, and vintage cuts in a youthful color palette of pink, silver. His final gown was like something out of a dream; a ballroom-skirted wedding gown with a coat covered in feathers.

Chanel

Donatella Versace showed very detailed gowns. For example, one dress featured a bodice made of white woven leather straps with little buckles, and another intricately-made trench coat with see-through trimmings.

Giambattista Valli featured mainly evening wear, focusing on volume, florals and subtle jewel tones. The dresses were stunning but a bit too daring, even for red carpet regulars.

Jean-Paul Gaultier showcased models in top-hats with tuxedo-inspired boleros and fringed gowns with Art Deco piecework. One model that caught the eye is the asexual Andrej Pejic.

Jean-Paul Gaultier

Elie Saab was certainly the star of the week, with his exceptional, stunning, breathtaking simple cut gowns with crystal embroidery and sequined lace. One of the most beautiful dresses of the show (and of the entire week) is a “cinched-waist bateau-necked gown in soft apricot, the sheer bodice a delicate tangle of sequins and embroidery, the skirt splashed in gold leaf” – ideal for any starlet on the red carpet wanting to steal all the limelight.