Presenting the highlights from Paris shows

Couture catch-up

Presenting the highlights from Paris shows

Versace Vibe: va va voom Highlights: Black tailleurs that opened the show set the mood of the show. The colour palette was a mix of black, white, red, and royal blue. The clothes were moulded to the body, sometimes with the curved seams exposed. Short bolero bomber jackets and wide skirts with fishtail hems stood out. Crystals were everywhere from the one-shouldered straps to the over-the-knee boots.   Chanel Vibe: botanical Highlights: Boucle suits had crystal flowered epaulettes.The block-colour wool suits that opened the show came with A-line skirts and long jackets. There were flowers all over, from the hems and shoulder to the arm warmers of tulle and the hair decorations of transparent plastic hanging from the low plait Sam McKnight had given each girl.   Elie Saab Inspiration: Beirut’s “golden age” Highlights: Above-the-knee party frocks trimmed in ostrich plumes were paired with low-heeled satin sandals. A sheer tulle jumpsuit with beads, a tulle robe coat with deep bands of feathers on the sleeve stood out. Christian Dior Inspiration: David Bowie Highlights: The show was an interesting medley of 50s, 60s and 70s. The opening ensemble was a sequined guipure lace shift layered with an opera coat in a green floral-printed plastic and accessorised with latex thigh-high boots. Printed bodysuits, poufy full-skirted dresses, floor-length maxis, sequinned rompers.   Valentino Inspiration: Shakespeare, bits and pieces of Dante’s Inferno, and the paintings of Marc Chagall Highlights Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli were inspired by love. Leather flowers appliquéd to rough-hewn linen, needlepoint embroideries on long pinafores and poems appliquéd onto dresses spelled romance. An array of velvet dresses with a ruffled chiffon collar stood out and so were shearling lined waistcoats.