Chanel – Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2010

‘Tis never to late to have a little look at what went on at Paris Haute Couture non? After all, couture is
ment to last forever!

Now, to be honest with you, I had been kind of avoiding looking in that direction, in a silly effort to keep myself at bay, to avoid ending up drooling over pieces that I can’t simply afford right now. (Note the deliberate use of the words “right now”) ‘cause, who is to say that I won’t be finding the “mature” prince charming of my dreams anytime soon right? -You know, the one that comes with, not only the looks, wit, charm and manners, but also with a big wallet and a very weak heart…

So, in view of this, I thought that I might as well have a look at the collections and start taking my picks.

Enjoy part 1 of ‘Les Couturiers’, starting off with some of my favourite designers…

Karl Lagerfeld | Chanel: LBD? Mais what LBD!

Karl Lagerfeld is the ring master of the haute couture circus! He always rocks up and surprises us giving us, the unthinkable, the unimaginable, the unexpected, season after season and he never fails at that. Who else could pull off fake fur and get applauded for it, I mean, come on!!! Remember? [click here to see]

This time, he does it again at Paris Haute Couture Week, in a collection where he says pah! to the Chanel classic staple of all times: ‘The Little Black Dress’.

His autumn/winter 2010/11 couture collection for Chanel -without a single and very much expected LBD and in fact, without even a hint of black (what you can see there is navy) – tells us that it is going to be a very cheerful Fall/Winter palette, inside the walk-in-wardrobes of the ladies who lunch, who can afford him. Ahhh bless!

“Every woman already has a little black dress in her wardrobe anyway.” – Says Mr lagerfeld. Well said Karl, don’t buy what you don’t need ladies. *finger pointing*

You can check out the video here, where the huge lyon on the stage, ain’t the only one looking
fierce! to say the least. No wonder every model dies to do Chanel and every girl dreams of looking
like a Chanel model! Meow! -Don’t miss the fab model Giabaconi Baptiste at the end, as he emerges
dressed in a tux and -literally- a very hot looking lyon’s head, whilst scorting a gold and pearl clad,
pretty Chanel bride. Ahhh!

Now here are my fave Chanel looks:

Freja Beha Erichsen at Chanel – Image via Style.com

Tati Cotliar at Chanel – Image via Style.com

Freja Beha Erichsen at Chanel – Image via Style.com

But more than the Chanel models, the pieces or the cute lyon, it is Karl himself who really rocks
my socks. I’d die to look (and dress) like him when I am his age. Hell yeah, Karl rocks!

Jean Paul Gautier | The Lovely Bones (of Dita Von Teese!)

The most Parisian of all French Fashion Designers gave us ‘Couture Scuba’ – as he describes it to Hilary Alexander, who admires a garment made from leather and padded with foam. “You know it is the same foam that they use in lingerie to make the breasts….Voila!” – says Jean Paul Gaultier.
I couldn’t have said it better myself Jean Paul. And with the addition of er, no other than the Haute Dita Von Teese herself, who stripped –literally- to the bone, peeling off layers and layers of mouth watering Jean Paul Gaultier Couture, ending up in a skeleton-like corset piece. Jean Paul Gaultier’s haute couture collection is simply… well…Voila!

Now, here are the me likeys at Gaultier:

Maria Kashleva at Jean Paul Gaultier – Image via Style.com

Georgina Stojilkovic at Jean Paul Gaultier – Image via Style.com

Thana Kuhnen at Jean Paul Gaultier – Image via Style.com

Which reminds me, I just wrote a piece about Dita Von Teese and other Burlesque stars rocking
the fashion catwalks for The Wam Bam Club (the best Burlesque and comedy show in London)
You can read it at the Wam Bam Blog if like me, you are into burlesque.

Alexis Mabille | The Art of Couture Mix and Match

In a nutshell, Alexis Mabille’s haute couture collection tell us that you can go from this:

To this:

and to this:

And from this:

To this:

That’s a lot of Maria Kashleva’s in one look don’t cha think?

Armani Prive | The Return of The Silver Screen Goddess

It’s is still all about silver screen goddess glam over at chez Armani, as seen in the catwalk of his Fall 2010 couture collection, which is sprinkled with a monochrome feel and oozes plenty of old Hollywood references.

The day business like looks scream classy and elegant business woman – I see Sam Jones from Sex and The City in her best looks – on some of those outfits, and I wouldn’t mind having one too. The lush evening goddess and mermaid dresses are to die for, especially the one that Karlie Kloss shimmers in, among my favourite ones, pictured below. Hollywood has never seemed more appealing to me!

Karmen Kass in Armani Prive – Image via Style.com

Frida Gustavsson in Armani Prive – Image via Style.com

Karlie Kloss in Armani Prive – Image via Style.com

PS-Trend alert! >>> Notice: hair all over face at Armani Prive. Me diggs.

Bouchra Jarrar | Contemporary Couture (The new kid on ze block)

Bouchra Jarrar is one of the new kids on the -very exclusive- haute couture block. Proof that what Anna Wintour -editor at large of American Vogue for those who don’t know her royal highness- says, goes. Anna was concerned about the lack of support towards young and fresh fashion talent in Paris, so she set on a mission to meet with the French editor of Vogue and with the Industry minister himself, Monsieur Christian Estrosi, back in January this year, to see what could be done about this. The result? New fashion talent in Paris Haute Couture Week. Hurrah!

After working for Balenciaga and Christian Lacroix for the past couple of years, Bouchra Jarrar
now stands alone on her own couture feet. She delivers a haute couture collection with a very
contemporary and sharp edge that feels very now. Hit or miss? Time will tell, but she has been
enjoying rave reviews and lots of media attention lately.

These are my favourite Bouchra Jarrar looks:

Anais in Bouchra Jarrar – Image via Style.com

Laura in Bouchra Jarrar – Image via Style.com

Inna in Bouchra Jarrar – Image via Style.com

And that’s all for now folks! Tune in for more Paris Haute Couture highlights, coming up in my next post!
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Love and couture!
xoxo
Nonita

Links:
http://www.alexismabille.com/
http://www.chanel.com/
http://www.jeanpaulgaultier.com/
http://bouchrajarrar.com/
http://www.giorgioarmani.com/default.html