Runway Report: Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week--Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012--Pics + Full Runway Video!

Monastic COUTURE, Cape Heaven, Flower Brocade and Valentino Red...

Viva Red: Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

Intense, sensual, regal...buzzwords for the "new" Valentino courtesy of its designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli. Ever since they were placed at the helm of the iconic Fashion House, they have tried to take its DNA of UBER feminine, flowery, ruffle-filled clothes for a Roman Lady (or her daughter) who Lunches on Caprese salad and limoncello (and worn by style icons such as Jackie O and Elizabeth Taylor) to a more educated romantic, slightly Gothic Girl. In the last few seasons, one can see where these two designers want to take the House of Valentino and make it relevant for the 21st Century but still be respectful to signor Valentino Garavani.

  Valentino designers Maria Grazia Chiuri (right) and Pier Paolo Piccioli (left)

For their recent Fall 2012 Valentino Haute Couture collection, they continued this spirit showing beautiful, delicate clothes, with an almost "Game of Thrones" touch to them. Monastic Capes (the Couture item of the season) were abundant and dresses with curved solid patterns highlighted by delicate chiffon:

Caped Crusader vs. Fluid Queen: Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

Crystal Cocktails: a black with silver sequin  jet-beaded cocktail dress with "pulled-up" Princess-cowl skirt detail (left) and a sequin-and-jacquard jumpsuit (right)--Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

Feminine Renaissance: cowl-draped long-sleeve silk chiffon gown with applique (left) and multicolored applique cocktail dress--Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

Priest Front, Red Carpet Back: silk crepe-back satin gown with semi-open blouson-and-caped back--Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

Botticelli Primavera: Full-skirted gown with cape in embroidered silk gazar (left) and gold and yellow bateau-neck long-sleeve dress with "pulled-up" skirt detail--Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

Roman Ball: blouson-style silk chiffon gown with sequined applique and silk satin applique coat with pointed shoulders--my FAVORITE look of the entire collection HANDS DOWN!!! Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

Click below for Full Runway Video of Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012:

Runway Report: Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week--Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012--Pics + Runway Video!

Flower and Ruffle Power!

Alta Moda Ruffles: Designer Giambattista Valli (center) with two of his Roman Alta Moda-inspired designs, Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

Continuing with Paris Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012 Fashion Week, designer Giambattista Valli showed his collection. Battista, known for his volants and prints, didn't disappoint on both counts. Ruffles exploded with grand exuberance in dresses, coats, gowns--you name it, they were there. The collection--based on fairies, nymphs, and a whimsical garden of COUTURE, featured flower prints in every variation that it almost made me forget that this was a FALL/WINTER Collection--as opposed to Spring/Summer.This seems to be a trend for this season!

 Peplum Couture: Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

You want PEPLUM? Huuuuney, Giambattista SERVED you PEPLUM--folded in what seemed like TEN layers(see far left and second-to-the-right photos above). Lord knows how those petite main COUTURE seamstresses fit all those layers into waist seams but they did it without a semblance of bulk (a masterful achievement indeed, trust me!). Many a cocktail dress and gown to satisfy all the multimillionaire ladies who order and buy these $100,000+ pieces, as well as those Cannes-and-Hollywood actresses who will borrow these dresses for a red carpet appearance worthy of all those flower prints and over-the-top ruffles.

Flower Power: Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

50's Eleganza: Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

In my opinion, so far, this is one of my favorite collections of Paris Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012 Fashion Week. Every piece was more incredible than the other. Each was a clear representation of what Haute Couture is and reminded me of those 1950's and 1960's heydays of Roman Alta Moda, which obviously influenced the designer a lot. I was literally SHAKING as I viewed every photo. I love it when fashion does that to me. Grazie mille Giambattista.

Pouf: Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

Flora and Fauna Details: Check out those netting masks covering the delicately beautiful model's faces--some highlighted with butterflies. The oversized lady bug arm cuffs and twig-like belts--all in gold were OUT of CONTROL! From head to toe, these were Grand Couture Nymph Fairies waiting for a fabulous party to attend!


Click Below for the Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012 Runway Video (edited):

Runway Report: Armani Prive Spring 2012--Photos + Runway Video!

Haute Sea Creatures

Underwater Fab: Armani Prive Spring 2012

Continuing with Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, the Italian Master--Giorgio Armani-showed his Armani Prive Spring 2012 Collection. It featured 44 looks all in varying shades of green. Now, something must be in the air--first Karl Lagerfeld showed his Chanel Haute Couture Collection all in varying shades of blue, now Armani--but in green this time. What's next? Next season, another designer will show their Haute Couture Collection in all shades of purple?? (or maybe I should for my next NIKOLAKI collection!!).

Russian Dolls: Elena Perminova and Miroslava Duma at the Armani Prive Spring 2012 show

Present for the showing were a bevy of Armani-ites--from Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev's wife and part-time model, Elena Perminova and Miroslava Duma, former editor of Russian Harper's Bazaar and Russian fashion icon--to actresses like...

Jessica Chastain--who in fact, got word of her Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress as she was sitting down for the show. She had the nerve to answer her cell phone as the Armani Prive show was about to start: Mon Dieu!! Thank goodness she did (there were shrieks and claps being heard right before the beginning of the show). Well, I have a very strong feeling that Chastain might be wearing Armani Prive to the Oscars. I might even bet money on it.

Green Sea Creature: Armani Prive Spring 2012

Now, onto the show: The all-shades-of-green collection was called "Metamorphosis". Something about a woman who changes from being calm and elegant and slowly "comes out of her skin". As one can see from the photos in this posting, the varying shades of green--from hunter green, apple green, to chartreuse--were beautiful. In terms of fabrications, Armani and his Couture atelier always deliver stupendous modern fabrics with sci-fi elements such as metalized silk satins, gazar, organza and oversized paillettes and beading.

Shoulder Chic: Armani Prive Spring 2012

The show began with the incredible craftsmanship of Armani's suits; those architectural shoulders that slant ever so slightly upward and probably required hours upon hours of draping and tailoring to get it just right. His skirts were side-draped and folded in an original way, bringing life to the otherwise same-old same-old pencil skirt.

Princess Beatrice Is Calling: Armani Prive Spring 2012

Haute Milliner Philip Treacy, created the twisted miniature fascinators to help bring to life Armani's Metamorphosized "creatures of the sea" and there were some fingerless driving gloves that Madonna would LOVE. Here are more photos from the collection and take special note of the final gowns in this posting--these have Academy Awards Red Carpet written ALL OVER them! Hello Jessica Chastain!

Chartreuse Couture: Armani Prive Spring 2012

And The Nominees Are...Armani Prive Spring 2012

And The Winner Is...Armani Prive Spring 2012

Click Below for Armani Prive Spring 2012 Runway Video:

Runway Report: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012--Photos + Runway Video

Welcome to Chanel Airways, Would Like Some Warm Nuts?

Coffee, Tea or...Couture: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Today, the House of Chanel and its GOD--I mean--designer Karl Lagerfeld, showed the latest Chanel Haute Couture Collection, for Spring 2012. Chanel's shows have always been a spectacle--who can forget that Underwater World Lagerfeld created for Chanel's Spring/Summer 2012 Ready To Wear show with Florence Welch singing last October...

Or the Gigantic Bronzed Lion in the middle of the Grand Palais for the Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2010 show (above photo). Well, this time, the set was an airplane cabin. A Super First Class airplane cabin, mind you. The seats were all diagonally situated (for better view down the aisle) and each guest's invitation, according to Cathy Horyn of the New York Times, had placements like "2A" and 6B" on them.

Sleeper Seat: A "Hint" of the Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012 Collection

Lagerfeld flies a lot so maybe this was an "Homage" airline travel--but I think it had more to do with Blue, the sky and all shades of the color. There were about 60 exits, almost all in blue--different shades of blue. It was as if Lagerfeld had Wikipedia'ed "Shades of Blue" and then demanded garments in all those shades!

Couture Client--Lady in Fur: The woman on the right--in the mink--is my new IDOL!!!! Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

The collection was beautiful, very client-oriented (not so many --Colors: Blue, all shades of it. Plus some white and almost-black (I think people call it "midnight blue"). Silhouettes/shapes: the Drop Waist is a Chanel staple and it was evident in this Spring 2012 Haute Couture Collection. Almost ever look had horizontal pockets.

Pocket Princesses: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

$40,000+ Chanel Haute Couture suits in wool-silk boucle had the ease of $100 denim jeans, as each model sauntered down the airplane cabin aisle with their hands half-perched inside the pockets.

Portrait Perfect: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Details included portrait-style collars; billowing bell/blouson sleeves--raglan and set-in-armholes; fitted sheath and shift dresses; varying lengths--above-the-knee or ankle-length. The bead-work was exquisite, as always--all hand-done and all Lesage, I am sure. Take a look at some of these marvelous ready-for-a-First Class Suite Flight--clothes:

Blouson Lunch: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Sky-High Hair: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Sequined Skies: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Jet Blue: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Choix de Mariage: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Click Below for Full Runway Video of Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012:

Runway Report: Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2012

A Lesson in Couture...

Flou Couture: Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2012

Only one season after showing his first ever Haute Couture collection, and designer Giambattista Valli has finally achieved the "Couture Stamp of Approval" from the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Coutuire Parisienne and is now the "one to watch out for". He has certainly shot up to the "Head of the Couture Class", especially since last season's collection was such a hit--with both editors, fashion critics, as well as the well-healed clients. Speaking of clients:

Valli Girls: Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco, Sarah Jessica Parker

Who can forget how GORGEOUS Princess Caroline of Hanover's daughter, Charlotte Casiraghi, looked in that baby blue Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown (bought not borrowed!!!) at her uncle's Monaco Royal Wedding--almost stealing the spotlight from Princess Charlene. And Sarah Jessica Parker in the same Haute Couture gown but different color (it was the runway sample!).

And of course, there's Spanish aristocrat/Fashion Doyenne Nati Abascal, who has worn Giambattista Valli Haute Couture (photo above) and...

Even Laura Vecina, now Duchess of Feria got married to one of Nati's beautiful sons in a Custom Giambattista Haute Couture design (above photo). Now that we've gotten the clients out of the way, let's talk about his new Haute Couture collection for Spring/Summer 2012.

Luncheon or Cocktails? Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2012

Yesterday, he showed his Spring 2012 Haute Couture collection, and from the photos, it was a "Return to the Classical Couture". Seeing every exit/look made me think: "We've found the Heir to Valentino, Ungaro and Yves Saint Laurent!" The clothes were sublimely elegant, restrained yet modern. No tricks, not so many "bells" or whistles, but just beautiful well-made clothes destined for the aristocrats of Europe and South America. While Donatella's Atelier Versace has "Girlfriend of a Russian Arms Dealer Billionaire" written all over it...Valli's client is well, more Victoria Crown Princess of Sweden and Sheikha Mozah of Qatar.

Bow-licious: Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2012

Colors ranged from pure white, silver gray, deep black and shots of fuchsia, pink, magenta and red. There were lots of prints, from delicate stripes to exuberant water-colored flowers. Fabrications were luxurious (Hello? It's Haute Couture!): hand-embroidered laces from Switzerland, French silks, and crocodile skin.

LBD: Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2012

Shapes were Lady-like, chic and perfect for those aforementioned aristocrat and royal clients. Strapless ball gowns, one-shouldered dresses a la Ungaro (where Valli once designed) and sleeveless sheaths were standouts. Bows were the "Star" detail, much like in the Christian Dior Haute Couture collection. Here are some more photos from the collection:

Royal Wedding Guest: Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2012

Where's My Chauffeur? Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2012