Paris Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011: Elie Saab

Sweet Saab Divas...

Chartreuse (Young) Lady: Side-draped gown, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Lebanon-born Paris and Beirut-based designer, Elie Saab sent out a sweetly beautiful Haute Couture Collection, featuring one perfect Oscar Red Carpet gown after another (take note Actresses!). It was a "new" Elie Saab woman: Less Halle Berry, more Scarlet Johansson; sweeter, not so "fierce" (well, those shoes were!) and more delicately made-up (hair, make-up). His Middle Eastern girls getting ready to "debut" at the next Crillon Ball should be ready to put their orders on one of those $50,000+ creations as we speak!

Tulle Shoulders: Blush-colored Organza-appliqued gown with covered shoulder mini-puffy raglan sleeves, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Trends: Fitted/defined waist; flowy gowns; appliqué/embroideries; SLITS/split-fronts; beading/sequins EVERYWHERE; SLEEVES on gowns; COVERED SHOULDERS on gowns; Silhouette: Fitted torso, loose from the waist.
Colors: BLUSH, lipstick red, lilac, off-white, black, yellow-green.

Themes: Elie Saab "Stomping DIVA" turns "Sweet Sixteen"; Late 19Th century/Early 20Th Century Socialite; Great Expectations' Mrs. Havisham (above), but in her younger years; Oscars Red Carpet GALORE!! Safe and Demurely sexy.

Highlights from Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011:

Shoulder Girl: Cowl-draped shoulder-covering sequined gown, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Arizona Lilac: Model-of-the-moment Arizona Muse in split-front silk chiffon lilac-colored gown, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Lady In One-Shoulder Red: One shoulder Lipstick red silk chiffon gown, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Oscar Dress: Strapless all-over beaded gown with very high center front slit opening, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Le Mariage: Finale Wedding Gown, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Click Below for Edited Video of Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011:

Paris Haute Couture "Unique" Gowns: What you Might Not See at the Emmy's Red Carpet!

Haute Couture Creative "What Is That?":
Haute Couture is all about one-of-a-kind creations meant for a rarefied few--either Top actresses who can borrow them for free to wear for Red Carpet events (to get the Designer some publicity) or the 400 or so (yep, that's all!) women from all over the world who can afford to fork up $30,000 for a pantsuit or $100,000+ for a gown. As in any type of fashion, there is a wide spectrum of designs ranging form the sublime and elegant to the "Are You Kidding Me?". Understandingly, a lot of Haute Couture is about designers having "no limits"; going "crazy" as it were and having no limits. With that being said, here are my "Nick Top Picks" for "I am not so sure about that...":
Eric Tibusch, a Parisian--by way of French Polynesia--designer who worked with Jean Paul Gaultier, showed a collection for Fall/Winter 2010 that had Reptilian suggestions. Check out those rhinoceros headdresses. Even if you remove those, the ensembles still do not get any better, unfortunately. The light aqua embroidered lace cocktail dress above would certainly prevent you from eating that Caesar Salad you desire at that fabulous cocktail party. I guess it's one way of staying thin.
Jean Paul Gaultier showed a fanciful collection--mostly good--but there were some missteps, that I doubt would make it to the Hollywood Red Carpet--or a party in Abu Dhabi for that matter, as seen by the photos above and below...
The dead fox is KILLING ME! And maybe not in a good way. The Drag Queens in my 'hood would love this, but well, that's about the extent of it.
John Galliano for Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2010 did his part as well. I actually LOVE this voluminous violet coat-dress but again, not so sure if this would ever make it on Heidi Klum, Angelina Jolie, or even Dior perfume spokesperson Charlize Theron. The ensemble does give you DRAMA. Points for that.Not sure about this Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2010 deep red silk velvet cowl draped gown as well. For the red carpet, you might see that cowl completely removed, then it might not end up in the "What Was She Thinking" section.
Finally, Chanel Fall/Winter 2010 Haute Couture by Karl Lagerfeld. The collection--for the most part--was amazing. But...then he showed this mess of a dress above. Bai Ling would be proud.

We'll see what makes it to the red carpet, and what does not!

Paris Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2010: Elie Saab and Valentino

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: