Couture Fashion Week: Top Looks From Dior, Chanel, More

Posted by , on July 2, 2012 at 5:00 pm

Making his debut, Raf Simons for Christian Dior impressed even the toughest critics as flowers covered the walls of the show. Nodding to the opulent New Look -- pioneered by Christian Dior in the 1940s [...]

Making his debut, Raf Simons for Christian Dior impressed even the toughest critics as flowers covered the walls of the show. Nodding to the opulent New Look -- pioneered by Christian Dior in the 1940s -- Simons spun the classic with his affinity for modern minimalism.

Raf Simons for Christian Dior during Couture Fashion Week.

Raf Simons for Christian Dior during Couture Fashion Week.

Raf Simons for Christian Dior during Couture Fashion Week.

Raf Simons for Christian Dior during Couture Fashion Week.

Raf Simons for Christian Dior during Couture Fashion Week.

Giambattista Valli may be one of the younger names on the couture circuit, but his red carpet-friendly brand of couture has earned him a cult celebrity and It-girl following known as "Valli girls."

The designer's signature dramatic, feminine take on couture was on full display for this season, featuring nature-inspired prints, bold silhouettes, and cascades of ruffles.

A look from Giambattista Valli's Fall/Winter 2013 Haute Couture collection. 

A look from Giambattista Valli's Fall/Winter 2013 Haute Couture collection. 

A look from Giambattista Valli's Fall/Winter 2013 Haute Couture collection. 

Spectacular details from Giambattista Valli's Fall/Winter 2013 Haute Couture collection. 

Ornate gold jewelry and a butterfly-topped headpiece at Giambattista Valli's Fall/Winter 2013 Haute Couture collection. 

The Versace Haute-Couture show was all-things Donatella this Couture Fashion Week with subtle boning references while the designer played with fluidity and constriction of shapes.

Versace Haute-Couture show as part of Couture Fashion Week.

Versace Haute-Couture show as part of Couture Fashion Week.

Alexis Mabille showcased futurism infused with old Hollywood references, updating details with heavy brocades and scuba-like materials for trimmings and embellishments.

A model present creations by French designer Alexis Mabille during the Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2012-2013 collection shows.

Models present creations by French designer Alexis Mabille during the Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2012-2013 collection shows.

Bouchra Jarrar took a feminine approach for this couture season, showcasing cinched waists and reinterpreted draping in a moderate color palette.

A model presents a creation by Moroccan-French designer Bouchra Jarrar during the Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2012-2013 collection shows.

Models present creations by Moroccan-French designer Bouchra Jarrar during the Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2012-2013 collection shows.

Not to be trumped by a newcomer, Karl Lagerfeld delivered a mesmerizing presentation for Chanel's couture show. Reminiscent of the American 1960's icon, Jackie O., trim tweed and knit skirts and blazers [...]

Not to be trumped by a newcomer, Karl Lagerfeld delivered a mesmerizing presentation for Chanel's couture show. Reminiscent of the American 1960's icon, Jackie O., trim tweed and knit skirts and blazers were balanced with glimmering tights finished with adorable loafers. Peter Pan collars and bell sleeves further pronounced the retro reference. Transitioning into formalwear, long dresses were embellished and free form offering a bohemian aspect. The showstopping moment, however, was the final look of the full-skirted white gown that undoubtedly left the audience wanting more.

Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel couture.

Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel couture.

Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel couture.

Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel couture.

Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel couture.

The Giorgio Armani Prive collection was sophisticated with an edge, and featured some striking beret-inspired hats. 

A look from Giambattista Valli's Fall/Winter 2013 Haute Couture collection. 

A look from Giambattista Valli's Fall/Winter 2013 Haute Couture collection. 

A look from Giambattista Valli's Fall/Winter 2013 Haute Couture collection. 

Spectacular details at Giambattista Valli's Fall/Winter 2013 Haute Couture collection. 

French designer Alexandre Vauthier's couture show featured a white and gold palette and loads of sex appeal.

A look from Alexandre Vauthier's Fall/Winter 2013 Haute Couture collection. 

A look from Alexandre Vauthier's Fall/Winter 2013 Haute Couture collection. 

French designer Stephane Rolland always curates an eye-catching collection for his couture shows, and the final look this season was a massive white gown modeled by Chinese actress Fan Bingbing.

A look from Stephane Rolland's Fall/Winter 2013 Haute Couture collection. 

A look from Stephane Rolland's Fall/Winter 2013 Haute Couture collection. 

Elie Saab's couture dresses have become a red carpet go-to for Hollywood starlets, and his latest collection didn't stray from his model for success: flattering, feminine dresses with loads of delicate details.

A look from the Elie Saab Fall / Winter 2012/13 Haute Couture show.

A look from the Elie Saab Fall / Winter 2012/13 Haute Couture show.

A look from the Elie Saab Fall / Winter 2012/13 Haute Couture show.

A look from the Elie Saab Fall / Winter 2012/13 Haute Couture show.

A look from the Elie Saab Fall / Winter 2012/13 Haute Couture show.

Jean-Paul Gaultier often mixes references to the past with futuristic silhouettes for his couture collections. This season, the designer paired '20s-inspired elements like top hats and swinger dresses [...]

Jean-Paul Gaultier often mixes references to the past with futuristic silhouettes for his couture collections. This season, the designer paired '20s-inspired elements like top hats and swinger dresses with forward-thinking fabrications and construction.

A look from Jean-Paul Gaultier's Fall / Winter 2012/13 Haute-Couture show.

A look from Jean-Paul Gaultier's Fall / Winter 2012/13 Haute-Couture show.

A look from Jean-Paul Gaultier's Fall / Winter 2012/13 Haute-Couture show.

A look from Jean-Paul Gaultier's Fall / Winter 2012/13 Haute-Couture show.

Gaultier walks the runway at the finale with a model wearing the final look from his Fall / Winter 2012/13 Haute-Couture show.

Valentino's haute couture collection also bore references to the past -- in the form of brocade, lace, and a more covered-up sensibility -- and offered plenty of red carpet-ready options for the [...]

Valentino's haute couture collection also bore references to the past -- in the form of brocade, lace, and a more covered-up sensibility -- and offered plenty of red carpet-ready options for the Hollywood set. (Incidentally, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West sat front row.)

A look from Valentino's Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2012-2013 collection.

A look from Valentino's Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2012-2013 collection.

A look from Valentino's Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2012-2013 collection.

A look from Valentino's Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2012-2013 collection.

A look from Valentino's Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2012-2013 collection.

Maison Martin Margiela presented a collection that was full of the mysterious designer's trademarks of reinterpreting vintage and turning abstract and unexpected objects on its head. Especially of note [...]

Maison Martin Margiela presented a collection that was full of the mysterious designer's trademarks of reinterpreting vintage and turning abstract and unexpected objects on its head. Especially of note were bodices constructed from baseball mitts to accentuate the avant-garde aesthetic known to the line.

A model presents a creation by Maison Martin Margiela.

A model presents a creation by Maison Martin Margiela.

A model presents a creation by Maison Martin Margiela.

A model presents a creation by Maison Martin Margiela.

Tapping signature styles from beading to rich fabrics, Riccardo Tisci debuted a collection for Givenchy's couture that was both comprehensive of the lines overall sensibilities. As with other designers [...]

Tapping signature styles from beading to rich fabrics, Riccardo Tisci debuted a collection for Givenchy's couture that was both comprehensive of the lines overall sensibilities. As with other designers this couture season, staples of the original designer's heyday were revisited and seen in 1960s bohemian nostalgia.

A look from Givenchy's couture Fall 2012 collection.

A look from Givenchy's couture Fall 2012 collection.

A look from Givenchy's couture Fall 2012 collection.

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This Couture Fashion Week, tradition is undergoing a major upheaval — in a good way. With new faces either posting up at couture’s seasoned regulars or established ready-to-wear designers finally taking the plunge, it’s certainly a season of firsts.

This season’s couturiers seem to be supplying more masculine options, apparently offering wearable solutions for their most luxe of consumers. Notably, Christian Dior’s new Creative Director, Raf Simons — the modernism master — respectfully nodded to Dior’s revolutionary movement, the New Look, purveyed in electric colors and updated fabrication. Another newcomer, Rad Hourani, is promising a groundbreaking showing seen in the first unisex couture collection.

Read on to see some of the best looks from this season’s Couture Fashion Week.

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  1. Netaley says:
    July 3, 2012 at 6:16 am

    faces either posting up at couture’s seasoned regulars or established ready-to-wear designers finally taking the plunge, it’s certainly a season of firsts.

    Reply
  2. Maya says:
    July 3, 2012 at 10:16 am

    Wow, I love the Dior and Giambattista Valli looks!

    Reply
  3. Shawnee says:
    July 4, 2012 at 3:00 am

    Another newcomer, Rad Hourani, is promising a groundbreaking showing seen in the first unisex couture collection.

    Reply