All The Highlights From Day One Of Paris Haute Couture Week

Schiaparelli - The week commenced inside one of Opera Garnier’s opulent 19th hallways beneath its dramatic baroque ceilings. There, Schiapparelli’s Spring/Summer 2019 collection was revealed through a series of vibrant creations that drew their inspiration from the brand’s founder Elsa Schiapparelli’s love of the cosmos and the botanical world. Bertrand Guyon explored the founder’s obsession with nature through pieces that paid tribute to her lesser known fifties designs. Lots of feathers, eighties-inspired frills, tulle, and lively colours, such as those found on Erin O’Connor’s tiered pink gown, lit up the space. Of note was a special appearance by French-Tunisian model Farida Khelfa, the previous ambassador of the label.

Givenchy - The Givenchy Haute Couture collection for Spring/Summer 2019 was set in in the lower galleries of the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Givenchy's Artistic Director Clare Waight Keller’s, collection consists of beautifully sculpted oversized looks integrated with pops of colour and flowing flared constructions.

Givenchy

Givenchy

Givenchy Haute Couture

Tony Ward - Fantastical references were found again at Lebanese designer Tony Ward’s show in the form of graceful geometric shapes to echo the form of a dragonfly and glittering masks and headpieces by Yana Markova.

Ralph and Russo - A Latin American theme and tribute to the stylish legacy of La Doña, the beloved Maria Felix was found at British luxury brand Ralph & Russo, unfolding in an array of sixties pop colours found on decadent pom-pom fringed skirts, wide brimmed hats, layered tassels and glamorous ball gowns that paid tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema.

Rabih Kayrouz - Rabih Kayrouz’s ethereal pieces for Spring/Summer 2019 similarly transported viewers into an otherworldly and harmonious realm through majestic greens, golds, and pure whites, pleats and tunic-like gowns.

Iris Van Herpen - Iris van Herpen’s electric gowns exploring the advances of DNA engineering and human-animal hybrids. All still very engineered but with a greater emphasis on materials of note was an ethereal deep blue pleated bustier gown with wing-like sleeves.

Georges Hobeika - Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika evoked the timeless essence of Versailles and the legendary story of Marie-Antoninette through majestic dresses, luxurious fabrics coloured in an opulent chromatic palette with lots of dreamy botanical references and shimmering embroidery.

Dior - Dior, couture was revealed in the midst of circus performers and talented acrobatics. Here ruffled clown collars, tulle skirts covered in sequins and tattooed sleeves evoked references to Victorian circus performers.