Recap of this Parisian Haute Couture Week, ending today.
As we wrote in our latest article, this week Paris welcomed and organised the Haute Couture Week. An opportunity for many brands to highlight their know-how and very specific fashion skills. The edition of this year is ending today and we thought that a little recap of the best and most memorable shows were a good article idea. So if you’ve missed some shows, then keep scrolling!
As usual, the Haute Couture Week was promising and truly intense. From amazing collections to incredible shows and surprises, we are more than happy about this year’s edition. We started talking about some brands and collections in our previous article, but we will keep going.
Schiaparelli:
We will start with the Schiaparelli Haute Couture collection and fashion show. The collection was presented by Daniel Roseberry, the creative director of the brand. As usual, Schiaparelli, through their Haute Couture collection, amazed us and proved, once again, their potential and talent. The show was simple in the organisation and decoration. The emphasis was on the look presented and their finesse work.
The collection is called: “Born Again”. Some would see a reference, in the colours, shapes and constructions of the Haute Couture looks, a reference to the current news and events going on worldwide. What we mainly see here are the complex techniques, assembling and the hard work behind each individual piece of the collection.
It sticks to the identity and DNA of the brand, and this Haute Couture collection is definitely recognisable and linked to Schiaparelli past history. We directly can relate the collection to the brand without even asking for a clue. Once again, well done and keep going, we love that.
Iris Van Herpen
We continue with another amazing and early on the schedule, Haute Couture Runway: the Iris Van Herpen one. The collection presented on the 4th of July 2022 in Paris is called “Meta Morphism”. This Haute Couture show was also an occasion for the brand to celebrate its 15th birthday. Too many things to celebrate on the same day.
The Haute Couture show presented is built around myths, future and a tension between artifice and nature. We can easily see all the ideas and spirit given to the looks thanks to the shapes, the transparency, and material used. Everything is a mix of fabrics, and other disruptive material such as the use of 3D building, banana leaf and more.
Basically, Iris Van Herpen showed us what fashion can be about and what it truly is: disruptiveness, innovation and creativity. It is not just about fabrics, simple shapes and what we are used to seeing and knowing. Fashion can be so much more and thanks to creators and Maison like this one, the world can finally see it and learn more about the industry.
“Meta Morphism” gives us many things to think about and reflect on, from the current period we are living in, the future we want to shape as well as what is possible to do. We also were brightly amazed by the collection, and we want to give them a big award for that. Thank you for participating in this Haute Couture Week.
Chanel
A big player in the Haute Couture industry is the Maison: Chanel. This year’s edition did not take place as usual at the Palais des Tuilerie, but at the Etrier de Paris. A change in the habits of the well implemented fashion brand. However, the collection is a proof of the signature of Chanel, and they are, once again, showing the Haute Couture world that they are not behind anyone.
A refined Haute Couture collection mixed with rock ‘n’ roll and talent. Chanel showed through this collection what they are unreachable at: tweeds and keeping a strong brand DNA and identity through the years, while keeping up with the world and the society. According to Caroline de Maigret (who talks in one of the previous Instagram videos from Chanel), the new collection was about Parisian women, and we cannot agree more. It is about elegance, about refined looks but with a dareful and brave touch. Chanel mixed elements, talents and skills to create this collection and it leads to an amazing result.
Virginie Viard, the Creative Director of Chanel, proved once again the long lasting “savoir-faire” of the Maison, as well as the ability to go through the years and period of life without losing the main essence of the brand. An amazing collection for an iconic Haute Couture brand.
Dior
The Dior Haute Couture collection was a surprise for us, but in a good way of course. We did not expect a collection like that but we were positively amazed. The collection is not just about handcraft and precious fabrics. It is about cultures, about real knowhow and about what fashion truly is. Maria Grazia Chiuri presented a collection in nudes, natural and simple tones but with details to look at, and embroideries to admire.
The inspiration of this Haute Couture collection was the folklore and different cultures. It is about tradition and the skills of craftsmanship. To be short, it is Art. What we expect during the Haute Couture Paris Week is to see what fashion was at the beginning and the essence of it. We want authenticity. Showing and historical knowledge of making high-quality items, combining different skills and knowledge. This year, Dior made it to define in a single collection what Haute Couture and fashion knowhow is.
We were expecting extravagance and some outstanding pieces, but in a disruptive and innovative way, but instead, Dior surprised us by going back to the essence and the basics of fashion and we just wanted to thank them for that. This Haute Couture collection was a sweet, elegant and timeless reminder of what we like, why we like it and how this industry is still going on. Getting a break from all the innovation to get a wave of traditional high-quality standards was so good.
Balenciaga
Now is the time to talk about the loudest Haute Couture show of this season: Balenciaga’s. The brand came with many surprises for this year’s edition. Everyone talked about it and it became iconic and went viral in a couple of minutes. Why? Because Kim Kardashian was there, Dua Lipa, Naomi Campbell as well, Bella Hadid, Kris Jenner, Nicole Kidman and many more.
This collection can be described in one word only: Balenciaga. That’s it. The Haute Couture show presented was a mix of shapes, fabrics, sculptures and also celebrities. Everything that makes the brand that famous. This collection was a way to empower the artistic direction taken these last years and to prove what it is really about. The brand is a sort of futuristic and outrageous one. It is not for everyone, and you need to be brave enough to wear one of their creations.
The colours were simple, no mixes but instead a really hard work on the designs and how everything was made. It is impressive all the work behind each item. Some have no visible needlework or sewing, some others can stay in place without asking. It is a pure design piece of art, and Demna proved, once again, his talent and genius creativity.
Haute Couture is also about new designs, about disruption and innovation and the Balenciaga show is a good example of what fashion can be.
Jean Paul Gautier
Are you ready? Yes, you need to be prepared and open to this fashion show as you will be submerged by a wave of creativity. The Haute Couture collection of Jean Paul Gaultier, under the creative direction of Olivier Rousteing, was one of the best and most memorable shows of this week in Paris. This is the other viral and most talked about Haute Couture show of this edition. What was shown and presented was a perfect blend of the Balmain and Olivier Rousteing touch with Jean Paul Gaultier identity and creations. The collection is a remixed and modernised version of the most iconic looks from the french Maison and creations. Just look:
From the music’s choice to the place, the colours and the choice of the model, this Haute Couture show was one of the bests of this edition. Olivier Rousteing presented a collection worthy of JPG and as brave, outrageous, iconic and amazing as the brand.
We are able to recognise the most famous and iconic looks of Jean Paul Gaultier through this collection, but remixed and adapted to the current age. On top of that, there is Rousteing’s touch and signature in every single element making it even more iconic. At the age of brand partnerships and alliances in the Luxury industry (Fendi x Versace, Adidas x Gucci etc.), Jean Paul Gautlier did not lose its identity and brand mantra through this Haute Couture collection. We loved it.
Also, you may have heard about Kim Kardashian during this Haute Couture Week and how she is becoming the centre of attention in Paris these last few days. She was dressed by Olivier Rousteing and the new Jean Paul Gaultier collection for the fashion show. Kim and North, her daughter, smashed the show. Also, what Kim was wearing for the show and was presented on the catwalk, is a reference and modernised version of the iconic Madonna’s dress, JPG made in 1992. Just have a look:
Another point to raise on this Haute Couture show: Diversity. Yes, we had to talk abit about it. Jean Paul Gaultier’s show was one of the few to have models from different ages, sizes, sexes and origins. We also saw Men for Balenciaga’s show, and we were happy about it. Haute Couture usually focuses on Women’s body and creations, and put away men but thanks to both disruptive and creative Maison (JPS and Balenciaga) , we were satisfied and less embittered.
Iconic as the Brand. Haute Couture is about the bands’ DNA, craftsmanship and knowledge, well we are served with Jean Paul Gaultier’s show.
Fendi
Fendi is a well known and recognised fashion brand. It took part at the Haute Couture Week, under the supervision of MR. Kim Jones. The show presented a brand-new collection, bringing newness and freshness to the famous Maison. This show was not that much on tradition and brand’s history but much more on creativity and bringing new ideas into the collection of this Italian brand. Of course, references were made to the previous collection and to Karl Largarfeld’s impact and actions into the Maison.
The Haute Couture Fendi’s collection is, of course, a very detailed and meticulous work of hand-made creations. It is also a particular attention and focus on the final result: movement, transparency and shapes. As a result, we obtain a transparent, patchworked, nude, shining and metallic collection. A lot of different elements, but with a lot of work, attention to it and for a great result.
Fendi showed up with a sophisticated, elegant and good-looking collection. We particularly liked the final look, the transparent and hand-embroidered dress.
Maison Margiela
Maison Margiela is always the outsider of the fashion shows. We call it the “weird sibling” of the family. You know, the one who behaves differently, in his world, cool, sweet but different. Always thinking in another way, creative, and not really concerned about the same things as you. Well, that is Margiela. The “weird sibling” of the Haute Couture world.
We think that Maison Margiela is what people not interested in fashion have in mind when we talk about Haute Couture, about fashion shows and events. We think that this difference and originality, in the collection, the brand’s identity and also how it presents itself make it an outsider but in a good way. We like to have disruption and an original mindset in the industry. Also, it leads to amazing shows like this one.
Maison Margiela, for their Haute Couture collection, came up with a way of presenting their creations. Instead of a classing catwalk by models, they opted for a “movie” lookalike version of fashion. Actors were dressed with the haute Couture collection and performed live in front of an audience. Interesting for a fashion brand. Here is the result:
The final result is a Haute Couture collection, made up from refined fabrics, playing with volumes, textures, transparency and colours. It is amazing how a fashion brand can mix different arts, elements and create a new and entire universe around a collection. That was smart and well thought from Maison Margiela and it gave this Haute Couture week another dimension.
Of course there were many more designers and brands scheduled for this Haute Couture Week, taking place in Paris this week, but we could not make a recap of all of them. However, we will soon write about less known and talked about fashion Maison. You will be able to know more about them, about their history and work.
Fashion is not just about the biggest player and leader in the industry. As you have seen here, and all this week is what they are capable of, and how they maintain their identity and reputation through the year. It is all thanks to their team and amazing workers, making this goal a reality. It is also thanks to the designers, able to appropriate themselves with the DNA and purpose at the heart of the Fashion brand they are working for. Fashion is about creativity, about tradition, knowhow and also about seriousness. We enjoy watching and following the Haute Couture weeks because it is very inspiring, amazing and a dream alive experience.
What a week we had and what insightful thought we came up with from this Haute Couture Parisian time.
See you soon XOXO
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