Bravissima!!


Haute Couture Fashion Week began today in Paris with a bang. In my last post I highlighted the latest Couture offering from the House of Dior and it's designer Bill Gaytten. Now, it's time for Donatella. Donatella Versace of course. Atelier Versace actually opened Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week with its first runway show since 2004. Between then and now, they've only been showing them via "Look Book" images on the Versace website. So, yes, the Haute Couture arm of Versace has not stopped, in case you were wondering. Now, more than ever though, it realizes the importance of showing these glorious one-of-a-kind garments--especially for new clients (Hello Russia!) and as an extension of the Marketing and PR of the Versace brand.


Donatella showed only fifteen looks (even though officially the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parsienne states there should be a minimum of 35 runs/exits, I think Miss Donatella got an "exemption"), that can only be described as "Versace Gladiator Goddesses". They were corseted, boned, stiffened and sexi-fied to the 9th degree!


One by one, all of the worlds current top models--Karlie Kloss, Daria Strokous, Arizona Muse, Lindsey Wixson--came down a set of golden stairs, very carefully (take a look at those 5" high Gladiator pumps!). Until all fifteen were done, then Donatella Versace took her bow.


The Collection: The color palette went from slate gray, neon lemon, tangerine, soft lilac, gold and canary yellow. The fabrications were intense and very Couture-worthy. One gold leather bustier dress (worn by the fabulous Arizona Muse) was laser-cut to look like lace. There was caviar beading so delicately woven into gowns, I could almost hear the cries of needle-breaking desperation from the Italian seamstresses.


In terms of shapes and styles, there were fitted gowns, strapless gowns, gowns with sleeves, mini corseted cocktail dresses, a jacket or two, sexy asymmetrical back-baring numbers and even some Couture shorts and jumpers. Some styles featured an asymmetrical side-front hip-enhancing detail. One would think this would not benefit a woman's figure but alas, in the Atelier Versace's draping and pattern-making team's hands, it looked fresh and modern.


Look for some of these $100,000+ garments on the red carpet--come Grammy and Academy Award time. I assure you. Take a look at some more of Atelier Versace Spring 2012:






Click Below for Video of Atelier Versace Spring/Summer 2012: