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In the face of today’s chaos, how do we even begin to talk about something as seemingly frivolous as haute couture fashion? In many ways, incredibly expensive dresses made for red carpets and the world’s elite? But I never felt so irrelevant or tone-deaf.
An idea was proposed by high-rise housing. chanel “Beauty in the imperfections of time” was the theme of a short film released by the brand ahead of the start of Paris Couture Week. We certainly live in imperfect times, but maybe it’s okay to take a moment to appreciate the beauty despite the chaos in the world around us.
Held twice a year in Paris, the haute couture shows showcase the bold ideas of today’s greatest fashion designers, crafted by the world’s most skilled artisans. In a sense, it’s art.
Here are some of the most eye-catching artistic moments seen during the four-day Spring/Summer 2024 show.
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A dress made from pre-2007 technical artifacts at Schiaparelli’s haute couture show at the Petit Palais in Paris.
Before the show started, celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Zendaya wowed the crowd and photographers waiting outside the venue, but it was inside the venue that the real magic happened.
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A model appeared on the runway with Schiaparelle’s “Robot Baby”.
The robot baby and robot dress, which are made from “pre-2007 technological artifacts,” according to the show notes, were created by legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath, who painted the model’s ears silver and decorated them with jewels. During the decoration process, they had to look closely at the decorations, which was a delicate process that required three people. time per person.
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Delicate sheer pockets seen at Chanel’s haute couture show.
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There were also details on dresses and skirts.
The Chanel show opened with a beaming Margaret Qualley wearing an all-white ensemble with a ruffled collar.
I also found a pocket. It’s a welcome addition to almost any dress or skirt, but how does it look in the world of haute couture? Zooming in on Chanel, we found the most delicate interpretation.
Prior to the show, Alaïa’s creative director Peter Moulier sent a note to guests explaining what the new collection was about.
Alaia
All items in Alaia’s collection are made from merino wool.
“This collection is about simplicity and purity, less means more,” he wrote, detailing that all fabrics used were developed from merino wool. One piece stood out as a stunningly simple yet sculptural white dress. The perfect design for the chic bride?
Valentino
At Valentino, a riot of color and dimension was on display.
Razamataz was in the front row, courtesy of Kylie Jenner’s five-year-old daughter Stormi Webster, who made her front row debut, but the embodiment of Valentino’s haute couture collection was relatively subdued. Pierpaolo Piccioli’s collection entitled “Le Salon” features acidic hues, clashes of colors and luxurious textures.
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Gaurav Gupta’s collections are both voluminous and complex.
Sculptural necklines are the trend of the day at Guaraf Gupta, with its exquisite, architectural creations (beyoncé also wearing them) standing out. Beaded plisse-style hoods, lifted, gravity-defying collars that resemble wings, and delicate zardozi-style metallic embroidery took center stage.
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Kim Jones explained that his collection for Fendi Auto was inspired by the futurism of the late Karl Lagerfeld.
“I’ve been thinking about Karl Lagerfeld and the future of Fendi,” Kim Jones, the house’s artistic director, said in the show notes. “This collection is about structure and decoration, and he makes the two inseparable. I wanted to express precision and emotion at the same time.”
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Fendi’s mini Baguette bag has debuted with its intricate details.
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“Decoration and structure are intertwined within the collection,” says the house.
Speaking of embellishments, the Maison took the opportunity to debut on the catwalk the Gems Baguette bag, which features a buckle encrusted with 18K white gold, platinum foil and diamond pavé.
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Maison Margiela’s haute couture collection by John Galliano was dreamy and theatrical, as befits the first full moon of the year.
Widely hailed as the show of the season, it showcased cinched waists, blooming bustles and dramatically exaggerated silhouettes from Maison Margiela creative director John Galliano.
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Gwendoline Christie closed the John Galliano show for Martin Margiela in a partially sheer, corset-like dress.
No one can pull off such a graceful, theatrical, raw deconstruction, so it’s fitting that the show ended with actor Gwendoline Christie striding down the runway in a partially transparent rubber dress. That was it.