WHAT: Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017. Jean Paul Gaultier showed his latest Haute Couture collection featuring looks that were inspired by the slopes (see below). The collection featured a "star" model in the form of Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere who was, in case you are new to beauty pageants, "Miss France"...


INSPIRATION: Ski Bunny/Glamazon on the Chairlift. Gaultier--always known for naming his outfits after something rather cheeky, continued this with some of his ensembles named Gstaad the Way It Is, L'Avalanche, What You Looping At, and there was even a nod to RuPaul's Drag Race with an outfit titled Sasha Velours.


SEEN ON THE RUNWAY: Ski Couture meets Nepal Mountain Divas...Sari-style drapes; velvets, silks, fur boots; leather and gold trims; Le Smoking gowns; ski sweater ensembles; Puffy vests; sequined suitings; Apres Ski Couture.

Collection Highlights:












Click below to watch Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017/2018 FULL Show:

WHAT: Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017. 83-year-old Karl Lagerfeld had a 46-ton Eiffel Tower recreated inside the Grand Palais to highlight his "Tribute to Paris" Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017/2018 show.


The 35-meter (125 feet) replica of the iconic Parisian monument, greeted guests, as it seemed to go beyond the Grand Palais' famed glass ceiling, as man-made steam created the illusion of clouds up above. It took workmen six weeks to make, copying beam for beam the columns and metal made by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Universal Exhibition.


INSPIRATION: The Belle Epoque was the starting point for inspiration, specifically the period which followed the building of the Eiffel Tower. Lagerfeld also said he was inspired by a "revived Parisian woman" with shapes, silhouettes and cuts that combined essences of the late 1880's-to-early 1900's, as well as 60's and contemporary looks.

SEEN ON THE RUNWAY: Curved oversized sloping shoulders; leg-o-mutton arms showed overt wink-and-a-nod to the pre-World War I fashion styles. The Chanel canotier hat which Coco wore during that same period was shown with just about every outfit. Besides this, many 1960's shapes and details were present such as mini dresses, retro batteau collars, knee-high boots and fun bows.  As usual at Chanel Haute Couture, exquisitely-made tweeds highlighted this Fall/Winter collection. Leather collars, multi layered pailletes and feathers made appearances here and there. The feathers mimicking a look of fur trim.



Collection Highlights:














Click below to watch "The Making of Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017" Video:

Click below to watch Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017 FULL video:

WHAT: Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017. Creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli created an extraordinary collection, showing a full range from day wear to evening, full of  wonderful color (marshmallow, strawberry, banana, prune!) combinations, simple shapes belying very labor intensive handwork (most garments took 1,000+ hours to create...each!), inspired by the commonalities of the church and religion, and the art of Haute Couture....



INSPIRATION: The Church meets Couture. The rituals of religion and its commonalities with the rituals of Haute Couture. It takes lots of time, effort and patience to create one-of-a-kind bespoke clothing and these handcrafting rituals resembled--to Pierpaolo Piccioli--the time-consuming rituals of The Church. In addition, the designer sought to be inspired by portraits of bishops, cardinals, nuns, saints from Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbaran.


DETAILS: Pleated skirt made out of strips of feathers(!); mink (!) coats; velvet intarsia, cashmere, brocades, chiffon plisse. Lots of monk-like capes, hoods, tent-like gowns.

Collection Highlights:











Making of Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017 Short Video:

Click below to watch Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017 Show: