Raf Simons for Dior ... the 2012 Autumn/ Winter Haute Couture collection

Raf Simons and the beginning of  a wonderful partnership with one of the most established fashion houses in the world - Christian Dior

Raf Simons entered the world of Haute Couture with elegance and poise, confident as if he has been doing couture forever, he wowed and brought back the 1950s glamour for the 2012 Autumn/ Winter Christian Dior Haute Couture collection. 
It was one of the most talked about debuts in the fashion world, lots of speculation and expectations, attended by designers such as Marc Jacobs, Alber Elbaz, Pierre Cardin, Azzedine Alaia, Donatella Versace, Riccardo Tisci, Olivier Theyskins, Christopher Kane and Diane von Furstenberg. 

Raf Simons said that 'The show was about beauty in a natural way', that he is looking into the brand with a new kind of energy, whilst re-visting the label's heritage and taking that with a modern kind of approach to the label and couture.

Feminine touches and old glamour, A-line shapes, belts bringing out the woman's shape, very classical and timeless. Daytime suits, for an ultra glamourous look and lovely textures, a true couture collection, recalling the timeless heritage of Christian Dior with defined accents from Raf Simons especially in the choice of birght colours ... blush pink, red, black, dark blue, yellow and white, with a focus on side pockets, lovely pointed court shoes and wool cigarette pants. He also featured Dior's wasp-waist New Look launched in 1947. 

Minimal bold make up with dark red lips, defined eyebrows and silver, green and other piercing coloured eyeshadow, whilst the hair was styled straight with middle parting, very elegant and conservative. 

A poetic and romantic collection ... sculptured lines, defined silhouettes, a sense of chic femininity and comfort, simply beautiful. 

Photos from Vogue.fr

Atelier Versace opens the 2012 Haute Couture collections in Paris

A/W 2012 Haute Couture collections

The Paris Haute Couture collections kicked off yesterday 1st July with Atelier Versace's opening the week on Sunday evening. 

Many differences were seen from last season, no more Bill Gaytten for Dior and Atelier Versace's second couture collection this year, but the first proper catwalk show since 1992, as well as debuting the Versace jewellery collection.

Donatella offered a colourful collection, for our cloudy rainy days for A\W 2012 at the Ritz in Paris for its return to the haute couture runway. Long flowy, sexy silk gowns and models like Karlie Kloss walking down the runway as beautiful hawks with the dark eye make up  and wavy romantic hair, ready to melt hearts. The dresses picked up again on the marine theme and the gladiator, roman theme, as seen in the last collections as well as in the last men's collection, from the shoes to the prints, silhouettes and colours. 

Mini dresses and dresses with bodices enhancing the waist, Donatella never seizes to disappoint, every dress was a show stopper. 

Today Raf Simons made his debut for Christian Dior, his first Haute Couture collection, the collections that everyone was waiting for with anticipation. A review will be posted in another blog post.  Alexis Mabille, Giambattista Valli and Iris Van Herpen were also on the runway today. 

Tomorrow the day opens with Chanel, after the plane ride of Karl Lagerfeld's last couture collection, I wonder what  to expect now. The day will follow with Stephane Rolland, who had Yasmin Le Bon walking down the runway in one  of the heaviest dresses ever made in his S/S 2012 couture collection, as well as Armani Prive & Givenchy.

On Wednesday Elie Saab, Valentino, Jean Paul Gaultier and Maison Margiela bring to a close the Haute Couture A/W 2012 collections. 

Reviews and news will up daily, watch this space.

Till then. 

Laura

Photos from Vogue.fr