RUNWAY REPORT.....Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week: Armani Privé S/S 2011

Space-Age Fantastic!

Ladies Who Lunch...In A Spaceship: Aquamarine Suit ensemble, Armani Privé Spring 2011

Spring 2011 Haute Couture is off and running...Next is the Armani Privé--the Haute Couture "arm" of the Armani Fashion Empire--show. I do not think I need to remind you that these are Made-to-Order/One-of-a-Kind items of clothing. This is NOT ready-to-wear or something that will be sold in the Armani stores. Each suit can cost--if the client orders--approximately $40,000. Yes, that's FIVE figures for a suit. And a gown...well, as the old adage says: If you have to ask, you CAN'T afford it ($50,000 and WAY up, kids). Stars who wear these to the Oscars, per se, get it for free (free advertising, HELLO!), but a very wealthy woman, from Kuwait for example, well, the funds are transferred straight from their Swiss Accounts into the Armani Privé offices. Now let's get to what Armani Privé showed for this season:

Seriously, Where's My Chauffeur? Apple green and white skinny pant ensemble, Armani Privé Spring 2011

Trends: Strapless, tunic dresses, dresses, gowns; iridescent silks (silk organza with metal); super-skinny pants under dresses; Saucer hats; 60's influence; fitted gowns; Colors: Aquamarine, turquoise, apple green, lipstick red, violet and purple, ivory.

Courrèges Girls: Suits from André Courrèges, 1960's

Themes: Pierre Cardin-meets-Courrèges -meets-Paco Rabanne, Space-Age, SHINE, Lady Gaga and "Tron" Collide.

Fashion Encounter of the Couture Kind: Pierre Cardin fashions, 1960's

Style.com's Tim Blanks said this: Inspired, he said, by the gleam of gemstones, Armani produced clothes that came from another planet, the same one that Pierre Cardin and Thierry Mugler might have touched down on once. (It's already been suggested its name could be Gaga.) The first outfit—jacket, skirt, and leggings—shimmered around the model's body like liquid mercury. Her metallic saucer of a hat—one of many made by Philip Treacy for the collection—beamed in signals from above. The ensemble set the tone for the sci-fi extravaganza that followed. Here are Some Highlights:

Where's My Lunch Reservation: Navy blue skinny trouser suit with over-lapped jacket, contrast white sleeve and asymmetrical neck detail, Armani Privé Spring 2011

Paco Rabanne Is Smiling: Over-sized Paillette Crystal strapless gown, Armani Privé Spring 2011

Oscar Girl: This is probably the gown we might see at the Academy Awards Red Carpet, red silk iridescent metalized organza off-the-shoulder fitted gown, Armani Privé Spring 2011

Click Below for an edited version of the Armani Prive Spring/Summer 2011 Collection:

I love a good "behind the scenes" video... This one below is of the Armani Privé fittings; you get to see some close-up shots of the amazing fabrications and all those GREAT accessories: