Perhaps the most anticipated fashion event of the season, Paris’s Haute Couture fashion week certainly did not disappoint. With some seriously dramatic dresses, and flamboyant fabrics, Paris is home of fairy-tale fashion. Designers showcased looks inspired by the natural world, light and movement with delicate embellishments and a pastel colour palette.
Elie Saab
Elie Saab brought every little girl’s dreams to life with his collection of whimsical, dainty dresses, sporting applique flowers and crystals overlaid on organza and tulle. His botanically inspired runway incorporated bright, punchy spring colours such as coral, as well as more muted nudes and lilacs. The most striking pieces were definitely the black to lilac ombré, floor length dresses which tied together the spring colours and the black evening gowns that were the finale of the show.
Zuhair Murad
Similarly inspired by natural forms, and deviating from his usual array of red carpet worthy dresses in muted tones, Murad sent heavily ornamented spring dresses in an array of pastel colours down the runway, accessorised with simple gold leaf waist belts.
Chanel
This spring, Karl Lagerfeld sent a collection of ultra-modern, sporty looks, in neutral tones of white, rose and lilac, down the runway. Instead of the usual six inch heels, models donned white trainers and skipped down flights of stairs to parade the dresses in front of an all-white, minimalistic set. Chanel’s traditional bouclé fabrics were reworked into lavender colours and a new silhouette with a structured, loose top over a form fitting undershirt, and skirts.
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Giambattista Valli
Valli showcased a series of eye-popping mini dresses in bright colours, which featured striking architectural detail. Dresses were heavily embellished and the floral inspiration was rendered in a much more artificial way. Colours were bright and rich and silhouettes hugged and sculpted the figure.
Jean Paul Gaultier
Jean Paul Gaultier’s take on the natural themes of light and movement that were so key to Paris’s runways this season, was slightly more literal. Dresses inspired by butterflies were showcased by the designer, with intricate draping and printing. The design was reworked into a corset for Gaultier’s finale, and was worn by famous burlesque dance Dita Von Teese.
Photo credits: http://www.wwd.com, http://www.graziadaily.co.uk, http://www.independent.co.uk