Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall 2012 is a Beauty of Nature.

Haute Couture is always a marvelous garden of high quality clothes that are breath taking and that satisfies the anticipation of the clients, editors and the entire world that loves fashion.
Giambattista Valli created his third haute couture collection which expressed a quality that looked highly lush and feminine. Beautiful silhouettes merged with ruffles and volume were outstanding.

This time it looked as if nature whispered to Valli in his dreams, guiding him every step of the way and at the same time supporting him in creating this collection. He pushed his experiments further. Cocktail dresses had much flares at the hip that were just perfect. Layered organza were fluffy for peplum on jackets.

Ruffles jutted out of the sides of dresses and gowns and layers of ruffles were around the neck.
The array of botanical print gave the impression of nature showing its beauty through clothes.

Some were cut into leaf or petal shapes and densely embroidered onto dresses. Over models heads were netting that on some had a butterfly on the mouth as if they were forest nymphs that were summoned to model these designs.



The volume throughout speaks for itself and the colors started from autumnal colors and ended to a vivid green color palette. These beautiful nature inspired sculptures are pure couture. Valli's followers have great looks to choose from. There is no excuse not to get at least one, two or more pieces from this collection. After all, haute couture is all about exquisite clothes and Giambattista Valli definitely knows how to design them.

Giambattista Valli 

Haute Couture

Autumn/Winter 

2012-2013

Glamorous Sculptures at Alexis Mabille Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012/2013.



The fall couture showing of Alexis Mabille followed after Raf Simon's much anticipated debut at Christian Dior. That is a tough act to follow. At Dior the collection was a much stripped down modernity. At Alexis Mabille an opulent and glamorous line up was unveiled at the Shangri-La Hotel. The gowns were inspired by precious jewels and were made of silky velvets, metallic lace, stretch sequins fabric and lames in beautiful rich shades of emerald, garnet, tanzanite - and some were sprinkled with fabulous Swarofsky crystals for the extra bling.



The lamé dresses looked like sheets of iridescent foil sculpted onto the body giving a very shiny a sense of young kitsch. The Hollywood-like silhouettes would have been fitting for classic stars like Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, or Carole Lombard.

Beautiful red and black crepe gowns featured beautiful cowl backs, a beaded silver gown had a fragile touch of a midnight blue sheath over it and the nude color finale gown gave a beautiful whisper of subtle sex appeal with a touch of sparkle under a layer of tulle.

I like that Mabille takes risks in silhouettes, fabric choice, and details. The outcome is always charming. Just like him!

Alexis Mabille

Haute Couture

Fall/Winter

2012-2013

Bouchra Jarrar Haute Couture Fall 2012 is Thumbs Up!

The collection by Bouchra Jarrar shown on Monday July 3rd was based on one single piece. "I used all of the items of the day to day trench coat, always keeping the fitted waist," she said. She cropped the trench into a sleeveless top over a skirt.

A lot of A-line shapes had movement and were matched with V-neck shells and some wonderful tops were matched with elegantly tailored pants.

Details throughout the collection were trenchlike straps and buckles. Very tasteful eveningwear was also a strong factor in the collection. With the soft blues and purples Jarrar made use of some elements such as corsetry, leather and hardware to give alight "aggression" in the mix. Short evening looks were just as perfect for any of Jarrar's clients. All of the pieces in this collection can be combined with non-couture pieces.
Once these garments are worn, one can't help but feel like a million bucks. Jarrar is a valuable couturier to have around because she puts thought into what a woman's needs are and what is practical yet make her look super elegant and modern at the same time. Perfect.

Bouchra Jarrar

Haute Couture 

Autumn/Winter

2012/2013

Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012. The Raf Simons Era Begins.

Christian Dior is one of the most luxurious and beautiful brands in the world. Monsieur Dior himself always created clothes that were highly exquisite and unique. They had the most elegant touches in construction, detail and silhouette. Not only did they make a woman look beautiful but they made her feel beautiful as well. Today the house of Christian Dior continues to create the most beautiful clothes designed by the very talented and made by the best hands.

2012 marks a new era for the house of Dior with the most anticipated debut since Galliano's own debut in 1997. The beginning of the Raf Simons era took place in a grand residence in a series of rooms, the walls of each covered densely packed, floor to ceiling with flowers. One room had white orchids, deep purple delphiniums and multi blooms in another.  And in these rooms sat editors, executives and clients. The house ambassadors Sharon Stone and Marion Cotillard  were present, as well as a variety of supportive competitive designers - Azzedine Alaïa, Marc Jacobs, Riccardo Tisci, Diane Von Furstenberg, Donatella Versace, as well as Pierre Cardin, Jean-Louis Scherrer, and Alber Elbaz. "We designers don't hate each other like they used to." says Marc Jacobs. Riccardo Tisci said the collection is "very Raf" and "the future of fashion."

The collection opened with a tuxedo that is an elegant updated Bar suit in black. "Cut off ballgown" ensembles came out with slim cigarette pants that were richly embroidered and elegant. There were some soft party dresses in the mix with a mixture of true couture craft. There was a dress of wide bands of pale pink and blue feathers that was quite exquisite.

Major focus was put on construction and subtle detail that at the same time offered a range from elegant sophistication to the younger end without compromising the Dior aesthetic. Simons worked on various fabric weights from astrakhan and mink to chiffon and mesh.

In the midst of all his blacks and greys he expressed his love for color in the form of a "Dior Red" coat and a shocking citron dress of sheer T-shirt and skirt.

In this entire collection Simons showed the respect for the house founder through his research of the fabulous archival wonders as the Bar, the florals, the range of grey tweeds while staying in the 21st century.

The house of Dior is already on the way with the New Looks and will do extremely well with old and new clients. LVMH Moët Hennesy Louis Vuitton chairman and chief executive officer Bernard Arnault gave Simons a straightforward brief. "I simply told him: 'It's Dior, so give us your version, your vision of what Dior is today. You have the result. I think it's fantastic, " he said. After the show, Arnault said his yearlong designer search was worth the wait. "I didn't want to rush," he said. It was really a question of choosing the best person for the job, and he stood head and shoulders above the rest: the greatest talent of the moment for Dior, the greatest house in the world."

I am sure that Monsieur Dior himself would agree and would also be pretty pleased. After his first collection for Dior, Raf Simons will definitely continue to evolve in his craft as an amazing haute couture designer. Congratulations!

Christian Dior 

Haute Couture

Autumn/Winter

2012-2013

Stella McCartney Spring/Summer 2012.

Stella McCartney designed a collection that was full of relaxing and beautiful clothes that are perfect for comfort and ease and pretty feminine. The main motif throughout was the cresting curlique embroideries that edged the scalloped hems of miniskirts and the lapels on blazers. They were added on to the sportswear that was divided into tank dresses and tailoring. There were many short dresses that were short and looked as though two dresses were layered on top of each other with some details of mesh. They came in combinations of white, black and cobalt blue.

The men's wear styles were marvelous and the tailoring was impeccable and came in smart and new shapes in forms of jackets and pants. There were great prints and paisleys on spare tailored jumpsuits and some pyjama style looks demanded comfort. The body hugging dresses with the mesh panels down the side were downright pretty and sexy.
These designs are the expression of Stella McCartney's vision for Spring and Summer of 2012 and is truly unique, classy and modern. I am looking forward to see what she designed for the British teams for the London 2012 Olympic Games. It is no mistake that she is meant to be a designer.

Stella McCartney

Spring/Summer

2012