Archive for the ‘Haute Couture’ Category
Designer Fashions, Designers, Features, Gallery, Haute Couture, Top Five
By Andrea Petrou on January 25th, 2012
Yesterday we bought you all the fashion fun from the Versace Haute Couture show and today we only thought it fair that we included a range of the other gorge designs shown off at this event.
We’ve therefore decided to put together what we think are the best five looks from a range of designers at this year’s fashion shin ding.
Of course we couldn’t compile a list like this without including Chanel, which amongst other great designs gave us a very 50s sequined blue shift frock with a hint of 80s styling in the shoulders.
Dior gave us a stunning girly net tea length dress, while Louis Vuitton went all lacey and 60s with a cute cream frock.
Over at Giorgio Armani the tone was all glam, with our fashion eyes landing on a metallic fishtail frock and bolero, while Stephane Rolland went all out with a flamboyant twisted white skirt and black bodice. We heart.
See the gallery below for our top five.
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Tags: "Haute Couture fashion week", catwalk looks, chanel, Christian Dior, dresses, fashions, Louis Vuitton, Paris, SS 2012, Stephane Rolland, Versace
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Designer Fashions, Features, Gallery, Haute Couture, Trend Alert
By emilyborrett on August 19th, 2011
Diane Von Fustenberg Autumn/Winter 2011
Colour is always a daunting aspect of fashion for me – as an ex-goth I still find myself dressing head to toe in black out of comfort, too scared to try anything more adventurous. But this season I think I might be able to get on board with colour. In the spring, thanks to Jil Sander it was all about eye-watering bright, almost fluorescent colour – no thanks, not for me – but this season all the designers are working with rich, sultry jewel colours of emerald, blue, turquoise, purple and ruby red. Mmm. There’s just enough dark glamour in this trend to give me the confidence to try it out..
This is one of the biggest trends this season, as opulent jewel colours were literally everywhere. Diane Von Fustenberg, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Pucci.. all the big names’ collections were showcasing these colours. I’m particularly interested in how DVF presented the trend – the models wore contrasting jewel tones of green and blue head to toe for a dramatic, glamorous and vintage look.
There is quite a retro feel about these colours, whether you want to be a 70s siren or a 1940s beauty. A good way to work the trend is a deep, bold pair of wide-legged trousers in dark red or green – team with a slippery silk shirt and red lipstick and you’ve got yourself one strong look already.
The high street is totally behind the jewel trend already – hooray! Check out the gallery above to see our favourite pieces.
Tags: autumn/winter, diane von fustenberg, dress, emerald, Gallery, green, gucci, Haute Couture, jewel colours, new season, purple, ruby red, silk, Trend Alert
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Accessories, Designer Fashions, Gallery, Haute Couture, How to Wear, Trend Alert
By emilyborrett on August 3rd, 2011
Marc Jacobs included hard pill-box hats for vintage mystery in his Autumn/Winter 2011 show
If you’re looking forward to planning your new A/W wardrobe then buying a few new accessories is a great place to start – and Mr. Marc Jacobs’ recent Autumn/Winter ’11 with it’s prim skirt-suits and 194os pillbox hats have got us coming over all wistful for an era we were never in. Luckily stores are already cottoning on to wartime-style fashions, so it’s time to get nostalgic with some vintage inspired headgear.
Hats are a huge part of this year’s Autumn/Winter dressing, as the season’s fashion heroine is a mysterious femme fatale who knows her stuff about tailoring – a good dramatic hat can add mystery and old Hollywood glamour to any outfit.
There are a few good pillbox-style pieces already available on the high street, though we reckon there will be more to come. If you can’t find a style at the moment that tickles your fancy you could also opt for a fascinator headband – lots of high street stores such as Lipsy and RockNRose are already making bands complete with large flower detailing and veils.
Check out the gallery above for our favourite pillbox hats and fascinators.
Tags: 1940s, Accessories, autumn/winter, fashion week, Hats, Marc Jacobs, trend, vintage
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Designers, dresses, Gallery, Haute Couture, Paris Fashion Week
By emilyborrett on July 7th, 2011
Elie Saab Haute Couture 2011
Lebanese-originated fashion house Elie Saab has been a red-carpet hit with the likes of young lovelies such as Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart for a while now, so we were looking forward to see what they were going to show us at Couture Week yesterday in Paris. Were we surprised when we weren’t let down? No, not at all – this was always going to be a good show.
It wasn’t a drastic departure from the label’s past collections, which have always been well-known for their fluttery, girlie designs in icy pastel shades. But while in the past some collections have been very “sugar, spice and everything nice”, we found yesterday’s offering a little more simple and sophisticated than past efforts. The whole affair was extremely pretty, with crystal and flower details trailing over sheer sleeves, hemlines and necklines in nude and white sheer fabrics.
The textiles used in the designs worked beautifully within the collection. Rich-looking cream lace and sheer wisps of chiffon were delicately embroidered with tiny flowers and leaves and encrusted with sparkles, with a resulting effect that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a fairytale.
It’s a big round of applause for Elie Saab from us at ShinyStyle. We guarantee this collection is going to be loved by red carpet attendees everywhere.
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Designer Fashions, Designers, Gallery, Haute Couture, Paris Fashion Week
By emilyborrett on July 7th, 2011
Givenchy Haute Couture 2011
It’s indisputable that one of the best moments of Paris Haute Couture Week has to be yesterday’s transcendent Givenchy show. Creative direction Riccardo Tisci had certainly pulled a white rabbit out of his hat for this truly magical, delicate show which was glorious against the backdrop of the River Seine in Paris. Tisci has a great history of powerful and impressive designs but nothing prepared me for yesterday’s collection, which, without sounding too gushing, took my breath away.
It was a smaller display of work than some of the other shows this week, with only ten dresses making up the collection. Normally we’d feel a little short-changed, but in Givenchy’s case yesterday less was definitely more. In each dress you could see the care and love of design that had gone into its’ creation.
The collection, in all its’ virginal beauty, was an interesting combination of simplicity and intricacy. The garments, which were a mix of trailing fringe, wisps of sheer white chiffon and heavy embellishment and embroidery, still seemed light and delicate despite the intricate detailing. To sum it up, completely exquisite. Yesterday the models selected to walk for the show could have been angels. Particularly spectacular was the show’s finale dress: gold fringing falling in columns to the floor from metallic winged detail around the hips, below nude fabric showing the model’s body. Like we said, angelic and fit for a goddess.
To us, yesterday’s show seemed to be a true celebration of the art of couture. Tisci seems to only go from strength to strength as a designer. We absolutely can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for us the next time Fashion Week rolls around.
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Designer Fashions, Designers, Features, Gallery, Haute Couture, Paris Fashion Week
By emilyborrett on July 7th, 2011
Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture 2011
Paris Couture Week is one of my absolute favourite fashion events out of the entire calendar, so I was excited this morning to pore over Jean Paul Gaultier’s latest sumptuous couture offering. There are certain boxes at a Gaultier show that are always going to be ticked – nipped waists, leather, black PVC, feathers and embellishment – but still the iconic house managed to surprise us anyway.
There was an obvious dance inspiration to this summer’s couture collection, as Gaultier combined full-skirted suits and pert tutu-esque garments with softly elegant ballet slippers. We duly noted that even the models’ sky-high wedges were worn with criss-crossed ribbon details around the ankles for a balletic feel. Perhaps the designer has been watching Black Swan a lot lately? Anyway, we loved the dance influences and were particularly charmed by a bell-sleeved black velvet biker-feel jacket with a light-as-air chiffon and feather tutu, which was modelled by the kittenish supermodel Sasha Pivovarova.
Another vibe that we picked up on in this show was that of the wicked stepmother. Scarlet-belted leather coats with fur collars, fiercely angular feather fascinators and vintage-style costume jewellery were all part of a vibe that we reckon Cruella DeVille would have been majorly into if she had been in Paris yesterday. Our number-one total favourite moment from the entire show was a particularly cruel-looking coat/dress made out of shredded strips of plastic and leather, that on closer inspection had a black plastic fox peeping out from the strips. Just like the fox-fur scarves your mad granny wore thirty years ago, except it’s MADE OF PVC. I always knew that “mentally ill heiress” had scope to make a comeback, and I was right. HA.
All of our favourite Gaultier touches had been added to each piece. Some leather detailing here, a plumage of tropical feathers there, shredding and draping and corsetry, oh my! The result was very dark with a slightly cruel edge and we really hope no plastic foxes or birds were harmed in the making of this collection, but basically the whole thing was very fabulous and very Paris Couture Week.
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Celebrity Style, Gallery, Haute Couture
By Andrea Petrou on July 6th, 2011
Alexa Chung
Goes for the black and white look at the Chanel show
Briquet-Gouhier-Guibbaud-Orban/ABACA/Press Association Images
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Tags: "Haute Couture fashion week", Alexa Chung, Armani, Cate Blanchett, chanel, Elle Fanning, Katie Holmes, Mila Jovovich, Paris
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Designer Fashions, Designers, Gallery, Haute Couture
By Andrea Petrou on July 5th, 2011
It was a bitter sweet moment yesterday as Paris opened its doors for the autumn/winter 2012 haute couture season.
And the excitement surrounding this long awaited event did nothing to disguise the fact that first show of the season – Christian Dior show that did not feature John Galliano.
Instead, Bill Gaytten, who was last week named Galliano’s successor, took the reigns to show off the collection, which gave a nod to a range of different eras and influences.
Fluorescent fabrics, which were mixed with classic woolens from the 80s, gave a nod to the punk/dance 1980s era while keeping a contrasting theme, while bold geometric prints and floaty chiffon fabrics suggested a 60s and 1970s Marrakech bohemian vibe.
Then there were the clear 80s style nipped jackets and pouffy skirts, which were clear favourites for the likes of Madonna and Tiffany in the era, while oversized ballgowns made from petals of delicate chiffon were vamped up and bought into the New York era with kitsch sparkles.
Add to that some ruffles, clown polka dot influences and of course those headpeices and you have a collection worth spending those hundreds of thousands on.
See the gallery below for the collection.
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Tags: autumn/winter 2012 haute couture, avant garde, Bill Gaytten, Christian Dior, collection, John Galliano, Paris
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Designers, Fashion News, Gallery, Haute Couture, Paris Fashion Week
By Andrea Petrou on March 13th, 2011
By Emily Borrett.
Christian Dior Couture Autumn/Winter 2006
Last week we wrote up John Galliano’s A/W 2011 catwalk show, which was shown amidst a flurry of outrage about the unforgivable anti-semitic remarks the designer was caught on camera making in a cafe in Paris. Since his drunken outburst, he has rightfully been dropped as creative director for iconic French fashion house Christian Dior, and rumours are waiting to be confirmed that designer Ricardo Tisci has been appointed to step into his shoes.
Shiny Style will never defend the recent actions of John Galliano and wholeheartedly agree with his dismissal. However, he has been one of fashion’s brightest talents for the past two decades, and has been unrivalled as a couturier. His lusciously ornate and avant-garde designs have always embodied the luxurious spirit of Christian Dior, a classic label, while always developing and looking forward to new trends. That’s why we’re so sad that he’s single-handedly destroyed his career in the manner that he has, and let so many of his supporters down.
So here’s one final gallery for Galliano; one of fashion’s most important designers, whose work at Dior has been an absolutely magical period for couture and ready-to-wear. Check out our gallery of our favourite designs from the past ten years, and leave your thoughts about Galliano and his work below.
Tags: avant garde, best work, Christian Dior, extravagant, Gallery, Haute Couture, John Galliano, Paris, racism, trial
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Designers, Features, Gallery, Haute Couture, Paris Fashion Week
By Andrea Petrou on January 26th, 2011
By Emily Borrett.
It’s not exactly a secret that Jean-Paul Gaultier is a bit of a maverick in the world of fashion design, but I don’t think anyone was quite expecting the couture collection that he showed in Paris today. Amidst a flurry of chiffon, draping, nudes and pom-pom ruffles, Gaultier showed a collection that was one part silent movie actress, two parts bondaged punk from the King’s Road, circa 1979. And let’s just say this – Vivienne Westwood may have invented punk, but we think Gaultier might have just re-invented it.
No model was without a mohawk today on the runway – something that probably should have looked cheesy and cliché, but instead worked brilliantly contrasted against rolled fringes and clipped retro waves to make a new style that was completely modern and pure Gaultier down to the core. He applied the same prim-meets-rebellious approach to his collection, which was an unbelievable mashup of old-school dark glamour and mean, snarling attitude. A sleek white trouser-suit was teamed with a spiked leather handbag shaped like a landmine. A sheer, distressed black sweater was worn with a timeless fringed skirt. Classic 1950s silhouettes were worn with (what looked like) the same kind of bejwelled stripper heels that we see Taylor Momsen stomping about in every day. On paper it shouldn’t have worked, but on the catwalk it was poetry.
As usual at one of Gaultier’s shows, there was more than a hint of the dominatrix in the collection as dresses came down the catwalk in rubbers, leathers and lacey fabrics. He’s a sucker for a vamp – that’s what we love about the guy. However, in addition to the usual gothic fare today there were some surprisingly cheery prints that were like sexy beams of sunshine amongst all the dark reds and black. ShinyStyle’s surprise favourite? The rainbow-coloured tuxedo, which had so much potential to be a horror but instead stuck two fingers up to everyone and radiated attitude.
And so, ShinyStyle gives Jean-Paul a special Shiny fashion salute. Today he brought true spirit and creativity to the runways of Paris.
Tags: fashion week, Glamour, gothic, Jean Paul Gaultier, leather, paris haute couture week, punk, shredding
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Designers, Gallery, Haute Couture, Paris Fashion Week
By Andrea Petrou on January 26th, 2011
By Emily Borrett.
Chanel’s show in Paris yesterday was always going to be a hard act to follow, but Lebanese designer Elie Saab dove right in and showed his credentials with an array of gowns in the beautiful Saab style that we’ve come to love. Favoured by red-carpet young guns such as Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, we already knew that the show was going to be a glamorous affair.
In the past Elie Saab has created very flirty, youthful dresses for young starlets, with hemlines falling way above the knee in shimmering tones of peach, beige and pink. However, it seems that the brand has grown up, as the majority of its’ collection was comprised on full-on, look-at-me superstar gowns. There were the same classic nude tones that Saab has favoured for a while in there, but we also saw vibrant Valentino reds, olive-greens and barely-there silvers which were breathtaking in swathes of chiffon and lace. And – gasp – black! We loved Saab’s final few black gowns which were endlessly dramatic and sexy, with slitted skirts to show off amazing pins and sweetheart necklines. Absolutely Jessica Rabbit-worthy.
As we saw before in Chanel’s couture show, ruffles and volume were the adornment du jour. We could have died for the rose-hued clusters of fabric that were smattered amongst hemlines and necklines – heartbreakingly feminine and pretty.
More conventional than other shows this week, the collection may not have got people talking in the same way that Givenchy’s cyber-kimonos or Chanel’s frothy babydoll shapes probably have, but Saab created yet another stellar collection of gowns which we expect to see on the red carpet in the very near future. And if it’s good enough for Hollywood’s elite, it’s sure as hell good enough for us.
Tags: draping, Elie Saab, haute couture week, lace, lebanon, nudes, Paris, red
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Designers, Gallery, Haute Couture, Paris Fashion Week
By Andrea Petrou on January 26th, 2011
By Emily Borrett.
All the hardcore fashion lovers which have flocked to Paris Couture Week for some extraordinary sights were waiting with baited breath yesterday to see what Euro-genius Karl Lagerfeld had come up with this time for the Chanel runway. And when your past shows have featured models tumbling sexily around in a barn full of hay and girls stomping around a melting ice-cap in swathes of fur, you’ve got a lot to live up to. Luckily Karl didn’t let us down.
There were plenty of the timeless silhouettes that we’ve come to love and expect from France’s most beloved luxury brand – but this time, there were a few wry twists that let us know that Lagerfeld doesn’t intend to play it safe when it comes to design. The classic black-and-white fringed, distressed tweeds that have been so en vogue in Chanel’s designs were given an update by being teamed with tougher fabrics – a classic example being the beautifully cut monochrome blazer that was sent down the catwalk teamed up with a pair of sheeny black sequined trousers and flat shoes. More bad girl than Parisian lady-in-waiting, non?
Pastel colours were also a key theme for the brand this season, with funnel-necked little jackets and tailored trousers being shown in shades of sugared violet and pale peach. An unexpected turn for the fashion house, which has always favoured its’ fabrics in classic black, greys and whites, but by golly it works. Adorned in crystal fastenings and shining trims, we hope that Karl’s new approach to outerwear will translate onto the high-street later this year. Could pastels overtake camel?
Mr. Lagerfeld has clearly also been taking peeks at the likes of Marchesa lately, as we saw more than a hint of the frou-frou in his dressier designs. Babydoll silhouttes, midi-hemlines and puff-sleeves were given the extra fashion oomph with an absolutely insane explosion of gathered, ruffled chiffon which gave the eveningwear a playful, princess-esque feel. We’re not sure if us normies could pull it off, but if Asos reproduce a forty-quid version then we’ll damn well give it a try.
Our verdict on the Chanel show? Karl Lagerfeld has pulled yet another rabbit out of his Swarovski-encrusted hat. He must have a whole field of them by now.
Tags: 2011, bespoke, catwalk, chanel, haute couture week, Karl Lagerfeld, Paris Fashion Week, pastels, runway, tweed
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Designer Fashions, Events, Fashion News, Features, Haute Couture, Paris Fashion Week
By emilyborrett on July 8th, 2010
Its a busy week for couture as fashionistas flock from all over the globe to Paris, fashion mecca, to gawp at what fantastic creations our most beloved designers have made for the upcoming Autumn/Winter Season. All of the most stylish celebrities were out in full force to eye up the haute couture, including Anna Wintour (naturally), Leighton Meester, French wild child Lou Doillon, Blake Lively and Jessica Alba.
The event is nearly over (it ends on the 11th) but it hasn’t disappointed in terms of spectacular design and craftmanship. Jean Paul Gaultier put on a sensational show that oozed old-school Hollywood glamour, sending models down the catwalk with cigarette holders and huge, Carmen Miranda-esque headpieces. The enticing blend of leathers, silks and furs really lent to the decadent vibe of his collection.
Valentino opted for romantic structuring in his collection; he showed us that the nude trend is still live and kicking as models walked the runway in creamy, peachy structures that were almost bird-cage like. A beautiful, dreamy collection of clothing, but probably the one of the least wearable things I’ve seen considering that you can’t sit down in it. It’ll be interesting to see how the high street tries to take influence from Valentino.
However, the favourite collection has to be (always has been, always will be) Chanel’s A/W collection, where the order of the day seemed to be an explosion of metallics, embellishments, golds and silks. I died a little bit looking at this collection – it’s disgustingly, incredibly gorgeous. I wish I was rich, or married to Karl Lagerfeld, or both. Words can’t describe how sickenly beautiful his collection was, so check the gallery below. (Here’s hoping Primark will start selling replicas of these dresses for a fiver).
All images courtesy of WENN.com.
Tags: chanel, Haute Couture, Jean Paul Gaultier, Paris Fashion Week, valentino
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Designer Fashions, designer pick of the week, Haute Couture
By Andrea Petrou on August 26th, 2009
While I’m on a designer roll it would be wrong not to tell you about this amazing video showing how a seamstresses turns a Karl Lagerfeld sketch into a finished dress and jacket.
After all there’s nothing more exciting than seeing how designer garments are made, and what we’re actually parting with our money for.
The video, which was given exclusively to The Cut, by Chanel is a great insight into all the hard work that goes into making these pieces and it’s definitely worth a watch. Yes the seamstress makes it look easy but watch the way each sequin is picked up and the way the piping is stitched on. I’m not sure I’d have the patience.
I think that if I’d actually seen a video like this during my disastrous attempts in my textiles A-level I may have done better (well I have to blame something.)
[Via the Swelle Life]
Tags: chanel, Haute Couture, Karl Lagerfeld, The Cut, The Swelle Life, video
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From:Debenhams show us how to avoid tanning disasters this year