Spring 2013 Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris means gorgeous gowns and over-the-top beauty. Designers pull out all the stops for their custom-made pieces. And that means the hair and makeup must be just as exclusive as the clothing. While these looks are more aspirational than attainable, they still make for great eye candy. From the studded lips at Dior to the spray-painted hair at Alexis Mabille, see the haute-est (get it) looks from the Paris runways.
Couture fashion shows attract the best dressed (and most beauty savvy) of the celebrity world. Even though the Haute Couture presentations had the most bizarre beauty looks, the stars attending kept it rather tame. See the most fashionable front-row attendees from Jessica Alba to Carine Roitfeld, and steal their hair and makeup.
Spring 2013 Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris means gorgeous gowns and over-the-top beauty. Designers pull out all the stops for their custom-made pieces. And that means the hair and makeup must be just as exclusive as the clothing. While these looks are more aspirational than attainable, they still make for great eye candy. From the studded lips at Dior to the spray-painted hair at Alexis Mabille, see the haute-est (get it) looks from the Paris runways.
One of the most exciting parts of Couture Fashion Week: Chanel nail polish. And in this particular case, you don't have to wait to buy the gorgeous apricot shade that came down the runway. The models' fingertips were polished with Le Vernis in Emprise ($39), a limited-edition hue from the new Spring 2013 collection. Best of all, it's available very soon on January 27. See the bottle and a picture of it on the runway, when you read more.
For Chanel's Spring Couture, Karl Lagerfeld transformed the Grand Palais in the heart of Paris into a private forest. Models stepped out onto a runway that resembled a hidden pathway, dotted with moss and greenery. Chanel's global creative director, Peter Philips, took the smoky eye to gothic levels with mesh lashes and blown-out black eyeshadow. Hair king Sam McKnight went for a suitably wispy up 'do — with no two the same — adding his own touch of dark, Victorian-era chic. Click through to see some of the dramatic looks now.
Traditionally, we look to flowers in bloom, foliage, and the prettiest kinds of dresses for Spring: Karl Lagerfeld does that, too, but we don't get all the trappings of tradition without Lagerfeld's eye for edgier nuance and modernised femininity. For Chanel's Spring Couture, Lagerfeld transformed the Grand Palais in the heart of Paris into a private forest. Models stepped out onto a runway that resembled a hidden pathway, dotted with moss and greenery, making Lagerfeld's foray into Spring territory all the more authentic — and all the more lush. Gauzy, plush layers finished with feathered hemlines, floral appliqués, and pleated tiers gave dresses, both short and floor-length, a whimsical touch that Lagerfeld countered with straight off-the shoulder necklines and again in accessories. Never leaning too far toward romance or toward looking too far ahead to something entirely unfamiliar, the collection balances vintage-inspired silhouettes — ladylike elbow-length sleeves and gloves, Chanel's tweedy finishes, and a black, white, and navy palette — with lace and metallic thigh-high open-toe boots. It's very much about the neckline — attention must be paid to the layered off-the-shoulder cuts exposing yet another layer or the halter necklines revealing the collarbone and shoulders. And even when Lagerfeld delivers Spring bridal wear, he can't help but play with tradition — and not just because his two brides may be construed as a nod to same-sex marriage — but with a wedding dress done up in creamy white feathers and finished in layers of dreamy tulle. He marries the strong and soft — and makes us weak in the knees with every floaty hemline and every expertly crafted detail that results. Click through to see the collection in its entirety.
Spring 2013 Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris means gorgeous gowns and over-the-top beauty. Designers pull out all the stops for their custom-made pieces. And that means the hair and makeup must be just as exclusive as the clothing. While these looks are more aspirational than attainable, they still make for great eye candy. From the studded lips at Dior to the spray-painted hair at Alexis Mabille, see the haute-est (get it) looks from the Paris runways.
For all those fumbling moments where you doubted your pronunciation of haute couture, second-guessed the difference between a button-up and a button-down, and wondered what exactly was the difference between a brogue, an oxford and a loafer, rest assured — your style-stumped days are over. We've culled our readers' most frequently asked style quandaries and played fashion detective in order to get to the bottom of this chic set of mysteries. From more logistical terms (like, what is a bias cut?) to sillier subjects (like, how the term sneakers was coined?), we're going to set the record straight. Click through for answers to your most stylish FAQs — and if you've got another, ask away in the comments!
Photo courtesy of Phil Oh
In a whirlwind week of Haute Couture, it's not an easy task to pick the crème de la crème (after all, isn't it all the best of the best?), but we did. After taking in the confections from couture week's heavy-hitters, we made it a mission to pick the most gorgeous gowns — the ones that totally took our breath away. From the lacy gowns at Valentino, finished in fairy-tale-like capes, to the all-out siren strapless numbers at Versace, there's nothing short of stunning in this curated collection of our favourites. Giambattista Valli said it with flowers, Givenchy with regal-inspired luxe — in any case, these truly are the most glamorous of them all.
Chanel is always the jewel in the crown of the haute couture fashion week schedule, and this season's A/W show certainly didn't disappoint. Karl Lagerfeld took the brand's signature ready-to-wear fabrication, the iconic Chanel tweed, and made it couture-worthy; embellishing it with delicate pearls and dainty floral motifs, splicing into pastel patchworks, trimming with chiffon and sculpting into effortlessly elegant evening coats and sheaths. Of course Coco's classic two-piece skirt suit made an appearance, but it's the way that Karl made it his own that's the trick. Watch this breathtakingly beautiful video to see how the nimble fingers of Chanel's skilled seamstresses take Lagerfeld's vision from sketch, to reality, to runway. Le sigh.
