Posts tagged ‘paris fashion week’
Haute Couture Fall 2010
As much as I love ready-to-wear fashion week(s), there’s something about couture shows that have me giddy with excitement each season. Having grown up watching old Hollywood films like Sabrina, Gigi, and Swing Time, I have always been drawn to glamorous and extravagant clothing. I can’t even begin to explain how upsetting it is to hear people say that couture is on its way out. So much of our lives are filled with informal and mundane activities, that a little couture and glamor once or twice a year should be highly commended, not pushed off of the fashion radar! But, regardless of my opinion the fate of couture does not lie in my hands, so we had best appreciate it while it’s still around.
This years fall/winter 2010 couture shows were like a glimpse into a recession-less life. Between the giant lion in the entryway at Chanel to to the floral theme at Dior, each show was as over-the-top and exaggerated as haute couture should be. Elie Saab, as per usual, was definitely my favorite out of all the shows, but I also loved Christian Dior, Chanel and Givenchy. Here are some of my favorite looks from this season’s shows:
photos via style.com & coutortureSpring 2010: DRIES VAN NOTEN
Dries Van Noten is one of my favorite designers because you can always expect to see something colorful and different than anything else you have seen in the season. This years collection was all about mismatching a variety of prints from different countries. Van Noten stuck with an earthy palette, pulling prints from Uzbekistan to South Asia.
Stiff square jackets were juxtaposed against beautifully wraped and draped skirts. Silky shirts and trousers looked European chic, but also looked comfortable enough to wear on a 10 hour plane ride.
What I love most about Dries Van Noten is his understanding of patterns and color. He has an eye for being able to put the most intricately detailed patterns together and making the match look seamless. A lot of times, too much pattern can look like a Pollock gone wrong, but Van Noten knows how to put together prints that create a beautiful silhouette.
Spring 2010: EMANUEL UNGARO
Emanuel Ungaro’s collaboration with Lindsay Lohan was pretty cheese and girly. Pepto bismol pinks, electric blues and kelly greens were all adorned with a heart motif that seemed best suited for Paris Hilton, not fashion guru’s that sit front row at YSL. That being said, there were some very nice silhouettes: short dresses that demand a stellar pair of stems, and some fitted blazers. However, all the clothes were at a fine line between classy and trashy…and the little heart pasties certainly didn’t help.
There are definitely some pieces in this collection that I would want in my closet, but as a whole, it was nothing we haven’t seen before. A lot of sites really ragged on Lindsay for this collection, saying that she should rebirth her acting career, and I have to say that I disagree. For her first “real” collection, this is pretty impressive. I think we can expect to see her designs and ideas blossom into something quite lovely if she’s given the opportunity to do so.
Spring 2010: KARL LAGERFELD
Leave it to Karl Lagerfeld to create some of the most stunning clothing we have seen this season. Sticking to his personal wardrobe, the collection was mostly black and white, with a few bits of corally oranges. The clothing was beautifully crafted and sculpted; from soft folds and drapes to angular shoulders and collars, Lagerfeld has an understanding of his expensive and luscious fabric. The strength and prominence of the jackets and vests were softened by the high waisted flared/pleated shorts. Unlike the other shorts we have seen this season, Lagerfeld’s shorts were rounder, designed for a woman with some hips and a waist. Towards the end of the collection, actual metal was incorporated into the designs. Yet, it did not feel heavy (as metal normally does), instead it added dazzling detail and light framework to a basic silhouette.
It seems that Lagerfeld was inspired by the “rockstar”. Little details of electric guitars and guitar playing Lagerfelds were added onto sunglasses and bags. It’s almost as if the actual design of the clothing was sculpted to look like certain areas of a guitar. Oh, Lagerfeld…you are my guitar hero.
Spring 2010 – COMME DES GARCONS
You can always count on a Comme des Garcons collection to be entirely different from what other designers are creating. This season, the collection was full of scraps of fabric crafted together making everything very structural. What really stood out as a theme in this collection was the idea of layering unexpected pieces together. Soft flowing dresses were contrasted with leather harnesses. Basic cotton leggings were balanced by shiny spandex biker shorts. The looks felt a bit heavy for spring (and even more so for summer), but once the pieces are separated they will add depth to what can otherwise be a very boring outfit.
