summer

Over the past week we have seen some of the most exceptional designers of our generation allow their creative imaginations to run wild in honour of the very privileged few that can afford to spend on them - yes, it’s been Paris couture week, the most glamorous of them all, and I’ve had the lucky task of rounding up our favourite moments and creations for you. Our top three shows were Christian Dior, Armani Prive and Christian Lacroix, and here’s why:

John Galliano for Christian Dior took a trip to 1920s Kyoto with a parade of red-lipped geishas gliding along in towering platform wedges and impossibly figure hugging skirts. The overall look was almost painterly with shades of cherry-blossom pink, oriental jade and a black that could have come directly from an ink pot – feminine and unashamedly sexy.

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As hemlines continue to rise, the shift dress is finding it’s home as a wardrobe staple, replacing skinny jeans as our favourite garment. First revisited on the runway six months ago the sixties trend looks set to run and run, especially with the impending release of Factory Girl, the film about Edie Sedgewick that’s set to make Sienna Miller an even bigger star than she already is. Burberry’s sexy Spring/Summer 07 campaign by Mario Testino took inspiration from the 1960’s photography of Cecil Beaton, and saw Kate Moss leading the troupe of beautiful people dressed in cream and silver trapeze-shaped coats with oversize buttons.

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After a lengthy debate with myself I can safely say that I liked the couture presentation from Felipe Olivera Baptista for Spring Summer 2007. It wasn’t love at first sight but after careful inspection, I became fond of his concept. Maintaining the spirit of his past collections he kept his palette clean with black, white and the addition of metallic silver. The collection seemed to be underlined by an eccentric equestrian theme reminiscent of Balenciaga which for me Baptista took to another level by fearlessly experimenting with horse shaped head wear and what appeared to resemble horse hair hanging in between jackets and draped over platforms.

While I wasn’t too keen on either the head/foot wear I did like his use of volume and structure. Sleeves were consistently voluminous and his fondness for circular shapes prevailed into this season resulting in my favourite piece of the collection, this dimensional mid length dress.

[images:modeaparis]

How much do I love the internet? Too much! Couture week officially began this morning with the presentation of Elie Saab’s collection “Goddess of the Dawn” and already some of the pictures from the show have surfaced. The Godfather of bling displayed shimmering gowns, perfect for an award winning starlet and which were stunning to say the least. However there were some pieces which I just found a bit too tacky and personally I think they were better suited or should I say would have been at home at a collection from Versace (see below)

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