Haute Couture fashion shows ended last week as the typical players like Christian Dior, Chanel, Armani Privé and Jean Paul Gaultier unveiled their most skilled and detailed creations.
While Haute Couture garments are typically reserved for the very wealthy and well-heeled, it’s always fun to look at the crème de la crème of fashion.
Settle in for the Fashion Bomb’s Fall 2010 Haute Couture Review.
Christian Dior:
Fun, frothy flowers inspired John Galliano, who sent out a lovely garden of multi-hued frocks for Christian Dior’s latest Haute Couture show. Though fall offerings are typically somber, Galliano went in the exact opposite direction, showcasing vibrant dresses and separates in a kaleidoscope of colors like orange, purple, pink, green, red, and white.
Galliano surprised with fuzzy belted ice blue sweaters punched up with bud embroidered black tulip skirts and cotton candy pink dresses with crinoline orange blooms peeking out from under split hems.
Stephen Jones pushed the inspiration to the limit, wrapping models in cellophane headpieces that made them look like fabulous fashion gifts. They were. This collection was an absolute delight.
Armani Privé:
With a sedate color palette of nude, brown, and flecks of bronze and silver, Giorgio Armani offered items seemingly tailored for the modern day businesswoman. The opening look, a caped, tan suit jacket and matching A-line skirt, set the tone for the decidedly demure show, which featured two piece suits, body skimming shifts and jumpsuits perfect for power brokers who need key pieces to reflect their flawless taste as well as professional acumen.
Buttoned-up looks thankfully gave way to more typical Couture creations, as seen in floor grazing sequin and stone addled gowns with strapless bodices and skirts that broke away from the body to create elegant A and straight line silhouettes.
Key details included brooches used to fasten jackets and nip waists, as well as oversized crocodile clutches and totes for carting important papers and Ipads in style.
Chanel:
Karl Lagerfeld also opened the Chanel Haute Couture Fall 2010 show with tailored suits, opting for a loganberry pencil skirt suit in a heavy, fall ready wool. Red gave way to brown, which gave way to forest green as Karl attempted to reinvent the Chanel suit for the modern woman.
The latter end of the collection became a little more interesting, as the Kaiser showcased jewel adorned shift dresses punched up with multi-stack plexi bracelets and chic brown boots.
The stand out of the collection would have to be the final look, a blue dress iced with gold–a glimpse of quintessential Chanel chic.
Jean Paul Gaultier:
Feathers, woodpecker inspired headpieces, and a mishmash of colors comprised Jean Paul Gaultier’s Haute Couture Fall 2011 show. While his past collections had a definite theme–whether it be a Mexican fiesta or early 90’s hip-hop–this particular foray seemed to simply be a grab bag of “Gaultier’s favorite things.”
Starting subtly with a black trench and fur accented black pinstripe suit, Gaultier eventually highlighted jackets with fur details worn with velvet skirts, floor length liquid bronze coats, and barely there lingerie like dresses.
While there was a lot going on, there was sweetness in simplicity. My favorite: a black draped dress with cut out detailing.
Valentino:
Ice pink, blue, and celery mingled with black and white for Valentino’s succinctly feminine Haute Couture collection. Bows, short hems, and dropped waists comprised the majority of the foray, which seemed geared for a debutante readying herself for her first ball.
Sweet dresses with pink bows and crinoline skirts played with flower applique’s and whisper thin fabric.
Simply lovely.
Which was your favorite?
Pictures via Style.com.
