Style journalists, fashion editors and some of the wealthiest fashion consumers gathered in Paris this week for the unveiling of the Spring 2018 Haute Couture collections. Houses including Dior, Chanel and Giambattista Valli showcased their fairytale confections and opulent offerings.
From pastel mille-feuille ruffles to monochromatic beatnik surrealism and cobweb harlequin lace gowns, the collections showcased a cross-section of sartorial spectacles. Each hand-stitched and made-to-measure creation was the work of some the greatest couturiers and the most expensive and exclusive clothes in fashion. Daywear pieces can start at about €10,000, while a bespoke gown easily surpasses that; it’s not unheard of for some dresses to fetch up to €250,000.
With the Oscars just around the corner, celebrities including Emily Blunt, Olivia Palermo, Diane Kruger and Isabelle Huppert all sat front-row with fresh-off-the-runway outfits. It was also a season of firsts with model-of-the-moment Kaia Gerber making her couture debut at Chanel, and designer Claire Waight Keller making a strong and confident entry at Givenchy.
Chanel
This season saw Chanel turn the Grand Palais into a magical rose garden catwalk with haute tailoring and botanical gowns which mirrored their surroundings.
Dior
At Dior, artistic director Maria Grazia Chirui looked to surrealists, specifically artist Leonor Fini, rendered in a lavish monochromatic beatnik palette complete with trompe l’oeil necklaces inked on the models’ collarbones.
Armani Prive
The 1960s were explored at Armani Prive with a lean silhouette of icy pastels, shimmering paillettes and crystal leggings.
Schiaparelli
Schiaparelli, under designer Bertrand Guyon, referenced its own past with intricate lace gowns and detailed ethnic embroidery that paid homage to the late Elsa Schiaparelli’s 1938 pagan collection.
Givenchy
Givenchy’s first show since 2010 saw designer Claire Waight Keller authoring an extravagant tale of dark romance with latex coats dusting frothy layers, and ostrich-lined coats paired with intricately beaded gowns.
Ralph & Russo
