Atelier Versace Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2012

This haute couture show was as Versace as Versace can be: the pastel chain mail, the hip-high slits, the scarf prints, the Medusa emblems, the bared skin. For colors, Versace favored nudes and jewel tones that matched the cocktail rings made from yellow diamonds, emeralds, and topazes the models wore on both index fingers. Short corseted dresses made from tarot-card-print silk laminated with PVC were  cut into narrow lengths; bits of flesh were visible through the slits.  Slashes on beaded evening dresses were sutured together with strands of crystals; another dress was patched together with silk chiffon lacing from pieces of leather that were hand-cut with tiny circles and hexagons.

Streetfashion Paris Haute Couture FW2012 Day 1

What are you wearing during the fashionweeks? Your Jil Sander-shoes, your latest Prada-shirt or that vintage Gucci? Maybe we’ll spot you in Paris, Milan, New York or Amsterdam. During the fashionweeks we refresh our streetwear posts regularly. We don’t judge, we’re not the fashion-police, we just enjoy fashion and your own personal style. Next stop: Paris Haute Couture.

Christian Dior Haute Couture Catwalk Fashion Show FW2012 Paris

There are no words to describe the beautiful, elegant, French, chic yet modern collection Raf Simons designed for Christian Dior.

Iris van Herpen Couture Collection Paris FW2012

With the presentation of her fall-winter 2012 collection during Paris couture-week Iris van Herpen proved that couture is really a platform for creativity. She keeps testing the limits with her creations, and no one on day one of the three-day-long couture calendar came anywhere near to pushing the envelope as far as Iris van Herpen.

What to think of a halter-dress made from what appeared to be a distended skeleton? Or the shiny black tubes that enveloped another mini-dress? Van Herpen presented old and new work, but it all morphs easily into one collection, the difference lies into the techniques, use of fabrics and themes. But what stays is her impressive dark techno style that’s original, exciting and fresh.

Jan Taminiau Couture Collection Paris FW2012

Dutch designer Jan Taminiau seemed to be the first designer to kick off Haute Couture week in Paris, unofficially that is. While everybody was awaiting the Dior couture-show (is there already a new designer?), Jan prepared his collection quietly. Nature Extends is the name of the collection, that was an unusual mix of cork and rich, flowing materials like chiffon. The fabrics and materials were sculpted into long, dramatic high collared dresses and tight suits. Colors changed from silver sequins into gray, taupe, brown/yellow.

Jan Taminiau Haute Couture Catwalk Fashion Show FW2011 AIFW

Jan Taminiau did not show only one, but two collections tonight. Amsterdam Fashion Week sure kept him busy the last couple of months. After his Demi Couture show Jan presented his Haute Couture show, which he already showed in Paris two days ago.

He might have held back a little with the Demi Couture collection, for his Haute Couture creations Jan gave his everything. His show, called Irradiance, was overwhelming. Models wearing his beautifully handcrafted creations walked the runway with their faces fully covered.

Jan designed a gorgeous baroque print with reflecting threads and put lots of details in his fabrics. There was so much to look at, the short fashion show was nowhere long enough to fully check out the garments.  No to mentions the spectacular shoes, which made the models walk down the catwalk really slow and carefully.

Lady Gaga already wore one of his creations and there’s no doubt she’ll find a piece in this collection fitting her wardrobe.

Check here for out backstage-report and frontrow.

Iris van Herpen Haute Couture show Paris SS2011

This week Iris van Herpen once again amazed the international fashion crowd with another great collection. She presented her new series of twelve outfits, for the first time during the Paris Haute Couture Week.

Iris van Herpen was inspired by the increasing digitalization of the world around us. She used the sculptures of American artist Kris Kuksi as an important inspiration and used a very special printing technique for her dresses. The designs were fully printed in 3D, not a single stitch was needed. Iris developed that technique together with architect Daniel Widrig, she used this technique in her previous collections too.

The white, black, grey and beige creations were made out of unconventional material like a mix of metal and silk, burned woven metal and shiny hair threads.

And there were more collaborations… For the shoes of the show Iris worked with Rem. D Koolhaas of United Nude again and she was honored to have British hat designer Stephen Jones working on her hats. They were made out of technological bits and pieces. Remnants of computers and speakers were turned into modern hat pieces….Wow!

Armani Prive Couture Catwalk Fashion Show FW2011

Bad news for the brown-, black- and red-haired models who wanted to walk in Armani’s couture show. The Italian designer chose to work only with blonde models this time. He gave them all a classic and feminine look, with a business touch.

The girls wore Armani classics; skirts at a decent knee-length and perfectly tailored jackets. One black croco leather jacket with a waist belt worn over it looked stunning.

The theme of the collection was ‘A play on amber’. This was visible in the large wooden and amber brooches Armani put on his jackets. They were the perfect classic accessory and really made the looks work.

For evening Armani brought on the floor sweeping dresses, mostly in brown and beige like the rest of this couture collection. They all flared out form the bust down. Armani used some gorgeous draping on the dresses. He played with materials like tweed and cashmere. And he ended the show with some mermaid dresses covered in thousands of shiny sequins.

Chanel Haute Couture Catwalk Fashion Show FW2011

The setting of the Chanel Couture show was a round stage on which a huge bronze Lion was standing. Getting the lion inside of the area must have been just as hard as it was with the iceberg, cause it was HUGE! The lion’s front paw was resting on what looked like a giant pearl. From out of that ball Lagerfeld’s models appeared.

The girls made a tangled impression; their hair was messy and most times was hanging all in front of their faces. The clothes on the contrary were flawless. Karl Lagerfeld designed many typical Chanel suits. They were made out of tweed, camel, velvet and many other thick autumn fabrics. The focus was often on the sleeves; those were loose and had pleats.

Karl also played with his jackets; he let his models wear short jackets over long ones and made them look like a one-piece. His skirts were all at knee-length or longer and were often wide like the skirts at the latest Louis Vuitton show. The waists of the outfits were small.

All creations came in shades like maroon, brown, camel and navy. They were highlighted by gold details;  embroideries, sequins and beadings. Eye-catching bracelets and golden boots completed the gorgeous looks.

And we sure hope that big lion was a sign of Karl Lagerfeld saying ‘Holland is going to win the World Cup’. We’ll see about that on Sunday.

Ps. This week rumours were spread about Lagerfeld appearing on Gossip Girl any time soon. Since Blake Lively and Leigthon Meester from that serie attented the Chanel show we think it’s not going to be long before we see Karl on TV.

Hair & Make-up suggestions for the Oscars

When going to the Oscars not only your dress has to look stunning. Your hair, as well as your make-up, has to be mind-blowing. Your overall look just need to be special and different from any other party or award show.

Thus, just letting your hair hang loose is not an option. It has to look like you put some effort into it. You’d have to pin it up, let it braid or let it curl.

The all-time favorite hairstyle at the Oscars seems to be a classical pinned up style. Perhaps finished with a nice hair accessory and eye-catching earrings. Yet while braids have got very popular last year we might see some of that at the Oscars as well.

At the haute couture shows in Paris the hair and make-up looked dramatically over the top. Big, old-fashioned hairstyles were presented and some of the make-up felt a bit drag queenish. Yet trends at fashion shows always get extremily magnified. So it’s good to get some inspiration from it and turn it into your own style.

Just always keep in mind that the Oscars deserve an ultra special look.

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