WHAT: Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2017.

THEMES: Middle East Divas; Sheikha Couture; Mini Turbans; Sailing Boats; Ballgowns; Jeweled Sequins Galore! No Daywear...All Red Carpet Glam. The only question is how many of these gowns will we see at the Academy Awards next month?! A LOT!!













DETAILS:

Click here to watch full video of Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2017:

Power Draping
Two weeks ago, I received a very nice Invitation in the mail (tied in a grosgrain copper-colored bow) from Paris (I know!) from the House of Stephane Rolland, Haute Couture Fashion Designer, inviting me to attend his Spring/Summer 2011 Haute Couture fashion show. Well, unfortunately, I couldn't attend (I'm hoping I will receive another invitation for the Fall/Winter 2011 Show!) but instead, I got to enjoy the next best thing: Photos of the show which occurred yesterday.
Stephane Rolland has never met a DRAPE he did not like! Strong, Powerful, Take-No-Prisoners Couture. The line-up was for the "New" 21st Century Roman/Grecian Goddess. Gowns, Gowns and more Gowns...Showstopping dresses that can cost as much as a Mercedes Benz and meant for the A-list actresses and singers who can borrow them--as well as the Middle Eastern Divas who can afford them. I absolutely LOVED the collection. It got my heart doing an excited pitter-patter! Now, THIS...is what Couture is all about. Now, I am REALLY depressed I couldn't attend (insert sad face).
Trends: High-low gowns; SLEEVES; structural and ARCHITECTURAL draping and folds; plunging necklines; Plisses/Fortuny pleating; Colors: ivory, pumpkin orange, bronzed copper, black, gold; metallic accents.
Themes: Sparta Queen meets Greco-Roman Warrior Princess; Making an Entrance DIVA; Venus Comes out of the Sea...in one of these Gowns!
Here are more Highlights from Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011:

Cowl Heaven...and Classique Couture Shapes... Cowl Wrapped: Elie Saab Haute Couture F/W 2010/11 Lebanese-born, Red Carpet-favorite Elie Saab showed his Fall/Winter 2010/11 Haute Couture Collection. It was very HEAVY, both in its fabrications as well as dramatic draping. But to me, Heavy in a good way. There's no mistake: It's Fall kids.Deep red velvets, muted silver organza, dark camel silk crepes, degrade chiffon and lots of hand-beading rounded out the color and fabrications he offered this season to the "Ladies Who Live and Lunch In Kuwait" who love their Elie Saab Haute Couture. Shapes ranged from exaggerated pleated structures, cowl drapes galore, one-shoulder Grecian Goddess gowns and a play on asymmetry.Fashion writer Tim Blanks of Style.com was not amused by the collection. But, I have to say: I kind of liked it! Yes, some of those gowns looked as if the models were drowning in them (as Tim Gunn would say: That's A LOT of Gown!) but...I'm a big fan of cowl draping, the "Grecian Goddess" motif, and lots of drama (what part of Nick Verreos did you not understand!). And of course, if you have a couple $100,000 to spare and are getting married and thinking against the "traditional" white satin gown...Well, this gray-silver ball gown above might be what you might want to be ordering. Besides, Queen Rania of Jordan, the Multi-Millionaire Brides-to-be LOVE themselves some Elie Saab, as we know. Click Below for Elie Saab F/W 2010/11 Haute Couture Runway Show Edited: Valentino Haute Couture: For Fall/Winter Haute Couture 2010/11, Designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli (above) decided to go "Vintage Couture". It was very 60's in a way, with 21st Century design nuances. Think Jackie O.-meets-Jessica Alba (who was in the front row). It was as if one was going through a "Valentino Archive Book" from the 60s--which, in a way is what the designers are most likely doing. The runway show began very "cagey" (see above) and then went 60's Valentino Couture.This black mini cocktail dress above with "exploding" organza rose is SO Valentino , SO Couture and yet, still SO modern. Also, it is very editorial and you just know Vogue Italia and Steven Meisel will EAT IT UP! The defining shape of the collection was definitely the trapeze off-the-body/Baby Doll shape and... The timeless "drop-waist". The Valentino Haute Couture F/W 2010/11 Collection showed LOTS of these latter styles, with ruffled bottoms that were cut right at the 16" below-the-natural-waist mark, which looked both "vintage" yet new (even if they seemed two sizes too big). In case you are shopping for that Little Black Dress, look no further than Valentino Haute Couture. This one above was one of my favorites. Imagine being at a party in Capri in this fur-trimmed little number?Of course, being the House of Valentino, the designers had to end with a "Valentino Red" showstopper, and this red silk Gazar gown just about did it for me. If I was one of those ladies in the front row (or ordering from my beachfront home in the Seychelles), I would definitely order this one! Also, note to my friend Miss Heidi Klum: This would look GORGEOUS at any upcoming red carpet awards show! I'll have to call her and let her know...after I show her MY collection :) Click below for a video of the Finale of the Valentino Haute Couture F/W 2010 Runway:

Haute Couture TequilaHaute Couture Fashion Week in Paris ended a few weeks ago (and now the fashion world has its eyes on New York City), but I would be remiss if I did not include one last runway show video here on my blog for all my Haute Couture-loving readers to enjoy: Jean Paul Gaultier. For Spring/Summer 2010, Jean Paul Gaultier had Mexico on his mind. He confessed in an interview that it had been 30 years since he had visited Mexico but he was nonetheless, inspired. The starting off point was Mel Gibson's Mayan blood-bath film Apocalypto from 2006. The rest involved a mix of Colonial Ladies-Who- Lunch style suits, Conquistador-printed sequin gowns... Aztec Goddesses in Rodarte-inspired (?) car-wash yarn dresses, Jungle-like Bird Empresses, bustier cage cocktailwear and 80s-inspired split-side denim pant ensembles. The soundtrack was as eclectic as the clothes I just described, with a Latin-Afro-Cuban-Tropical-Jungle House vibe. There was even a "special guest star model": The exotically gorgeous Chloe Morteud, Miss France 2009. All that was missing was a Mariachi band and some Maria Felix and Cantiflas look-a-likes. Click BELOW for the entire Runway Video...Enjoy! Jean Paul Gaultier Spring/Summer 2010 Haute Couture-Part One: Jean Paul Gaultier Spring/Summer 2010 Haute Couture-Part Two:

House of Valentino needs to Focus plus Elie Saab Love... Influenced: Rodarte Spring 2010 and Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2010 The House of Valentino has gone through a couple of changes since Monsieur Garavani exited. First, they hired Alessandra Facchinetti to design and one Couture Season after, she was unceremoniously fired. Ever since, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, former Accessories designers for Valentino have been at the helm. I have to admit: I think they should have kept Facchinetti-- it was my favorite post-Garavani Valentino Haute Couture Collection. Case in point: For Spring/Summer 2010, Chiuri and Piccioli sent out some beautiful designs, BUT, it was very different from the season before...and the season prior to that....Make up your mind darlings. Are you "Classic Valentino... with a Twist"? Or are you Rodarte? The color blocking, styling, and punk/apocalyptic make-up was very un-Valentino and more Blade Runner 2010... Can someone PLEASE explain this above? PLEASE??? It should be on a Fashionista test: "For $5,000, can anyone identify the designer of this dress?" I bet that 99.9 % would NOT have said "House of Valentino". That might NOT be a good thing kiddies... However, there were some moments of "Valentino Clarity": As in this limoncello-colored silk chiffon gown. I would love to see someone wear this gown to the Oscars. Seriously. That actress would certainly be a stand out! (Sans that eye blindfold, of course!). Valentino Preview Video Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2010 Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2010 Elie Saab Pastels reigned for Spring 2010 at the Elie Saab Haute Couture show. Saab has been accused of being repetitive in his designs and once again, if you breeze through this 44 look collection it almost looks like you are viewing many of the same gowns over and over again. But Elie Saab knows his client (multi-millionaire Chinese women, Persian Gulf and Eastern Europe DIVAS!) and delivers exactly what she wants. One has to understand that in Haute Couture, if someone orders a dress that costs upwards of $100,000, very often you want to be the ONLY person who owns this one-of-a-kind garment. Therefore, Saab intelligently offers multiple variations on his exquisite creations giving each woman the "Elie Saab Look" but different enough to call her own.The one variation in the collection were two chiffon gowns that were created using a very large floral watercolor print. Although not for everyone, these prints certainly stood out amongst the sea of beaded frocks and looked perfect for a Swedish Princess. Elie Saab Preview Video Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2010

Monsieur Nick Verreos...Several weeks back, I received something in the mail from Paris France. I went into "Uncle Nick" convulsions! It was an invitation for the Stephane Rolland 2010 Spring/Summer Haute Couture Fashion Show. After much thought (after I calmed down!), I realized because of my work and crazy schedule (I was actually filming in Los Angeles that day), I could not attend. But I will be in Paris for the Fall/Winter 2010 Haute Couture Fashion Week in July, so I will be hoping for another invitation! So for now I will have to settle for the next best thing: Seeing the show on video and photos. If you may not know, Stephane Rolland is one of the up-and-coming Couturiers that all of the fashion world is buzzing about. Rihanna--as well as Queen Rania--have worn his designs. He is know for glorious modern cocktail and evening wear. Sexy not vulgar. For Spring/Summer 2010 Haute Couture, he sent down beautiful designs showing a love for off-kilter draping, and curve-a-licious lines (sorry, I know that was very un-fashionista terminology). The silhouettes were DIVINE! And a bonus: One of my favorite models was in the show: The one and only Sessilee Lopez. Click Below for a Preview of the Stephane Rolland Spring/Summer 2010 Haute Couture Show: Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika also showed this past week during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week . There was lots of beading, red, canary yellows and a running theme of transparency. The red gown above was gorgeous but I'm not so sure how many of those ultra-rich Persian Gulf clients in Bahrain and Kuwait would order that without a lining--but the color is perfect for the wives or girlfriends of all those Couture-buying Chinese billionaires that the recent WWD article was talking about. At the show, every model wore a shoulder-length brunette bob with bangs. I must admit that I am not a fan of identical wigs on models. But, I did love the pleated mini Leg O' Mutton sleeves on this beaded cocktail number.One of my favorite looks in the Hobeika 2010 Haute Couture show was this final wedding gown--now I can certainly see a fabulously wealthy Bahraini bride wear that! George Hobeika Haute Couture--Preview and Reportage