The Look: Jean Paul Gaultier's Haute Couture S/S 2014 collection revolved around The Butterfly--and playful couture interpretations of that winged creature. The collection began with suitings and dresses accessorized with butterfly "masks". There were gowns and coats that suggested a cocoon--one such coat required 600 meters of silk tulle that were twisted all by hand into cords of graduated thickness to give it a look of a catcher's net. It's Haute Couture after all. By the last section of the collection, it had morphed into a full-on Folies Bergère-like extravaganza featuring models in feathered headdresses and burlesque diva Dita Von Teese in a Mr. Pearl corseted creation highlighting a very, very tiny waist.

Colors: Black, blue, radiant violet, aqua, fire red

Trends: Pencil skirts, below the knee; cigarette pants, draped jersey dresses a la Madame Gres;

The Look: According to Style.com: "Fifty-five looks for fifty-five operas. The Valentino designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli were after something new for Couture this season, and they found it in the age-old tradition of opera. The show opened with a nod to La Traviata; Giuseppe Verdi's score was embroidered in black on the long, full skirt of a parchment-colored tulle dress. After that, Chiuri explained, "we wanted to describe the character of each [opera's] protagonist in a primordial way." By the end, they had called out all the greats: Puccini's La Bohème inspired an elegant navy cashmere cape and silk crepe sheath. Bizet's Carmen produced a pleated bronze tulle gown with silver-gray guipure lace embroideries."

After seeing all the photos and runway video (at the end of the post) I thought it was a STUNNING collection. One of the BEST of this Paris Couture Week. I especially LOVED the monastic caftan-silhouette gowns. Simple, elegant and very Roma Alta Moda COUTURE! Bravo.

The Look: Giorgio Armani's latest haute couture Armani Prive collection for Spring/Summer 2014 was named "Nomade" for all the tribes that drift under heaven's domes. There were essences of Byzantine, Ottoman Empire and some Lolou de la Falaise for good measure (scarf-wrapped heads, couture gypsies). The collection began with models sauntering very slowly (see video at end of this post) showcasing the elegant, simple-yet perfectly tailored jackets, pants and skirts that keep those Euro royals and Gulf States ladies coming for more. The finale showcased gorgeous Swarovski-crystal encrusted sweeping gowns that scream Cate Blanchett, Jodi Foster and many other A-List gals...just in time for the Oscars.

Colors: Blue, silver, gray (Hello! It's Armani!), metallics.

The Look: The Oscars. Red Carpet. Gorgeous, perfectly made dresses for UBER wealthy Gulf States, Chinese, Indian clients...oh, and the Red Carpet Fab actresses can borrow them as well. The gowns are hand-made, cost over $100,000 (if you can order them to buy) and well worth every penny! In this Haute Couture collection, Lebanese designer SCHOOLED every other designer on How To Make Red Carpet Evening Gowns.

The Look: Chanel Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2014 took place in a set that Karl Lagerfeld said was "an ice palace, a nightclub on another planet". His "ice princess" were crystallized, athletic and corseted. The corseted midriff was the core of almost every silhouette of this collection. Cropped bolero jackets went on top while fuller dirndl skirts finished the suiting look. There was a definite "athletic"/sportif theme (Hello Olympics!)--with elbow and knee pads as well as fanny packs. Every model wore a couture sneaker from Massaro. The cost of those said sneakers, around $6000. Couture Sportif.

Colors: Ivory, pink, mint green, creme, metallics, silver, golden hues, nudes, pastels.


Trends: Boxy suiting; sack dresses; 1920s gowns; cropped jackets; full dirndl skirts; Couture sneakers; Accessory Must-Have: Fanny packs; Focus on the corseted midriff; drop waist silhouettes.

The Look: Dior classics brought into modern haute couture styling; Creative director Raf Simons looks back (at the Dior archives and maybe some Cristobal Balenciaga references) using the "sack" dress as the star, while looking to the future using modern fabrications/appliques/treatments; fabrics moved; intricately cut-out organzas, silks; pretty, feminine; red carpet looks for the more modern "Hollywood It Girl".