Haute couture is about drama and this year’s shows in Paris certainly didn’t fail to deliver.
A couture collection enables fashion houses to indulgently spend hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of hours on single garments to create pieces so unique and wonderful they are nothing short of wearable artworks.
Outlandishly imaginative and obscenely expensive, couture’s craftsmanship is mostly unappreciated by the average fashion fan whose style sense is more often than not dictated by the pennies in their purse and that’s fair enough when you consider most pieces are hand made to order.
While not wanting to recite the cringe worthy, but spot on Meryl Streep monologue in The Devil Wears Prada, what most people don’t understand is that the couture creations, like the ones on display in Paris, will eventually dictate the fashion to come. The styles and trends seen will eventually be recreated at a reasonable production price and then filter down to every department store’s bargain bin.
This year, major fashion houses like Dior, Armani, Versace, Gaultier and Chanel all went wild and unleashed their creativity to exhibit explosively diverse and divisive collections. Here are some of the week’s best looks.
Valentino, Atelier Versace and Maison Martin Margiela all showed wildly imaginative collections during Paris’s Fashion Week Haute-Couture Spring/Summer 2014.
Masked models and intricate embellishments were the signature for Maison Martin Margiela’s show.
A model walks the runway wearing a metallic pinstripe creation at Maison Martin Margiela.
A model walks the runway during the Maison Martin Margiela show as part of Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2014.
A tattoo inspired top at Maison Martin Margiela.
Couture isn’t all ball gowns and corsets: Maison Martin Margiela kept it short and sweet with this colourful number.
Supermodel Karlie Kloss walks the runway for the Atelier Versace show.
Model Lindsey Wixson walks the runway during the Atelier Versace in a look very reminiscent of Kylie Minogue’s white jumpsuit video moment.
A model walks the runway during the Atelier Versace show in some cobalt blue couture.
Stephane Rolland’s phoenix inspired signature piece.
Models present the colourful Stephane Rolland creations during the Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2014 collection.
Delicate flowing fabrics floated down Stephane Rolland runway.
Colourful fabric, sheer panels and leather were all rolled into one garment at Stephane Rolland.
While outlandish and avant garde, Karl Largfeld’s Chanel show still manages to captivate Coco’s classic signature.
Knee pads and bum-bags where an adventurous accessory choice at Chanel.
Cara Delevingne is a creative concoction of innocence vs punk chic at Chanel.
Cara as Chanel’s bride: The model walked the runway in a sheer gown with silver sneakers on.
In a homage to couture of centuries past, Elie Saab created Cinderella-style gowns for the girls on his runway.
Elie Saab’s gowns were all ethereal elegance.
Dita Von Teese wore a burlesque butterfly creation on Jean Paul Gaultier’s runway show.
Models walked the Valentino runways in dark and heavy creations. The couture collection placed an emphasis on embellishment and texture which inspired a gothic air to their presentation.
A model shows one of the lightest-hued gowns in the Valentino collection.
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