Tag: Haute Couture

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Fashion

Couture 2

Two

Two shows that impressed me this Couture Season, Fashion House Balenciaga returned to Couture stage this season after 53 years. Hard shoes to fill, Cristobal is revered in the fashion world. Creative head Demna Gvasalia had his hands full. The expectations of failure came to my mind. Happily, “disappointed” because Demma step up the plate, swung the bat for a home run. Reinterpreting a master is not easy, finding a modern balance with a line to the heritage. Let’s consider the world is still suffering from Covid 19. Why introduce a couture collection? A long shot.

The lamp shade hats hooked me. Showstopper! The glorious piece topping a wool sleeveless frayed looks. Of course the over size suits hit the eyes with the glorious sensation of a child seeing cotton candy, sheer delight.

Valentino

Valentino in Venice, not the normal location for the Italian house to have a Haute Couture fashion show. But, these are not normal times. Staging the catwalk in Italy, Pierpaolo Piccioli pulled the pride card, who can blame him given Italy’s

struggles over the past 17 month. Doing what Valentino has done best, matching the classy with the spectacular touching on ethereal. The vibrant color palette gave the touch of optimism.

Where to start on the looks? Eighty four creations in all shown at Venice Ship year. Being from the American South, of course will catch my attention. Throw in lavender, I will it a winner. The feathered top piece and mini leather cloaked dress was a stunner. Mixing in menswear with capes, oversized scarves and loose jackets, I guess there was a statement, yet, I missed it. Don’t get me wrong, the looks were superb, but i would rather have watched them in a mens show.

Life feels uncertain these days, however, “Creative is a natural extension of our enthusiasm.”

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Fashion

Viva Juana!

Using an impressive location in Paris, the Spanish Embassy, Juana Martin made her debut at Haute Couture Week 2020. Her collection, “Les Cours De Ma Maison”, reflected an Andalusian background influenced by Flamenco dancing and dress.  The Cordoba native gave the audience generous looks of embroidery, shawls, and headpieces.   I would call the collection “Personal”.   A reflection of a person who loves her “Tierra”.  

  • Designer Martin and actress de Palma take a bow.

Spanish Actress Rossy De Palma showed up at the end for a touch of authentic flamenco.  I have been a fan of hers since “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown”.  But you will have to wait for that video.

Stay Tuned for more coverage.  

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Fashion

Paris Impressions

Tension 

Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture is over. This season, a strange feeling hovered over the French Capital.  Numerous strikes have paralysedFrance.  President Macron’s reform policies have not gone down well the citizens. I am not familiar with Gaul politics and economy but Paris was a city filled with tension. How many strikes occur in Paris on a weekly basis? I knew this would be a different fashion week when my flight was delayed. When I arrived at Charles De Gaulle airport, the first announcement I heard, “Due to industrial action,,,”. “Welcome!”

Secondly, Paris was really cold and gray. One day the temperature hit -4. Not pleasant weather for running around from show to show or standing outside for an extra 30 or 40 minutes. This fashion week events never start on time.

All shows had extra security on hand. The entire city has been on alert for threats.

Is This Worth It? 

My problem with fashion has been the democratization has been haphazard at best. I am beginning to wonder if it is worth attending a fashion week. Standing in lines, Fighting crowds, the expenses, the ROI seems to diminish. Has Instagram and social media has been a blessing or a curse? A lot of invites, a lot of attendees, but why? The agencies cannot keep up with the requests. The crowd control situation is the same as a South American Bus Station.  However, strangely, many shows were not at full capacity. 

At one show, I saw how exasperated the staff became. All of the sudden there are so many stylists, photographers, and influencers. HUH? I asked a few to show me their work. An Instagram Selfie is now an editorial. Then, there are those who borrow or buy clothes (later returned) for a fashion show appearance. The people who really work during fashion week cannot dress as if their are attending the Red Carpet Met Gala. I can spot them a front row seat away.

Thankfully, I do not have the need to be seen at every fashion show.  If I sit five rows back, I ususally say, “send me the pictures”.

GoodBye

The big news from Paris Haute Couture Week, sadly, the last show for Jean Paul Gaultier. Sexual, imaginative, and ahead of the gender curve designer bowed out after 50 years on the scene. Gaultier stopped making Ready to Wear designs years ago, now, no more Couture looks. The star studded show was packed with his friends walking the runway. His classic breton stripes interpretations and ethnic chic influences, his frivolity will be missed.

I am still going over the looks from Haute Couture Week, please stay tuned.  A lot of reviews coming soon.

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Fashion

Paris Experiences

Want to know what my experiences were like in Paris during Couture Week? Check out some of the videos.  It was never boring. Sometimes a challenge overcoming old values. All things considered, I plan on returning.  But Paris always excites me. 

A Big Thank You to Canon.  They loaned me a camera. 

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Fashion

Paris Fashion Week Couture

BONJOUR! 

Sorry, I have not been posting. A bit busy on this end playing catch up. Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture felt a bit overwhelming. Covering the event for the firs time started from the moment I arrived at the hotel. I dropped the bags at the hotel in the center of Paris then raced off. My first appointment was in the Vendome. HOT! The only word describe the scene, 32 degrees in a city lacking green spaces. Loud? Yes. Big cities are not places for medidating at 11am. 

Rush! Rush! I wore comfortable shoes to get into the rhythm of the French Capital during PFW. 

Unlike other fashionweeks Couture week is more exclusive. A smaller crowd of editors, buyers, and clients for one of kind creations.

I got invites from production houses Shout out to Mephistopheles, public relations agencies, and designers.  The Couture Jewelry collection presentation events were also scheduled as well as showroom visits. Four  full days were on my calendar.

Paris is not only a walking city,  but also for running. Seeing fit Frenchmen jogging in skimpy shorts in the Tuileries Garden may seem like a Samantha Jones inspired fantasy but crisscrossing it during the day to make an appointment, well, I could not sit down to admire the sights, too much dust and lack of time.

HOT!

Too Darn Hot! 

Did I mention it was HOT in Paris during PFW? The metro was opened for free rides.  Thankfully, many shows and presentation were in walking distance or 3 metro stops away.

Wearing Black was the summer look, not for me. This is a mixture of shameless product placement, sponsorship, and fashion practicality. Cividini loaned me a few silk and cotton polo shirts. Breathable materials saved my life. 

Expecting brands tomeet a timetable would ask too much but starting 45 minutes to 1 hour late made keeping a timetable impossible. I missed 3 shows.  Happily, I arranged for re-see’s.

I cannot wait until the next Couture Week.

Video and images  made with Canon Camera. Sponsored by #canondeu

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Fashion

Bonjour Paris

info@imaxtree.com

Black and Paper countdown to Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture starting June 30th. The City of Lights is our destination to the fashion week of fashion weeks. Couture is the ultimate in craftsmanship. One of a kind looks created by designers to showcase their skills as technique masters. 

An understatement would be the word “Thrilled”. The adjective “Excited” comes in second. This came about because of an email located in our Junk File. The only option available,  “yes”, feeling like the lead character Maggie Prescott from the 1957 film “Funny Face”. We may break out singing a Gershwin Song, “S Wonderful”.

Stay Tuned for all the coverage. 

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Fashion

Paris Fashion Week Couture Highlights

Just a Quick Rundown 

Haute Couture is for a few but inspiration for all. This is the week when fashion houses unleash pageantry at its most 17thcentury finest. Sheer splendor in the air meticulous designs, some taking hundreds of man and woman hours to produce. Shapes and colors in all structures combined for display on the catwalk, then on display for a few buyers, celebrities, and press. 

Valentino’s head Piccioli is now the head of the optimistic club judging by this colorful collection. So Vivid!Not just colors, but shapes, lace, frills, ruffles, and extravagance of it all. Super model Naomi Campbell closed the show in a black sheer top.

What Armani does it is for Armani woman. Prive designs are about getting noticed but not in a noticeable way. The looks seemed inspired from a 30’s films. Suits, jackets, and dress fitted for the body from head to toe. The Woman in Red, look #34, has Joan Crawford written all over it, a jacket with a calf link dress stops the room.

Olivier Rousteing brought Balmain back the Couture zone. He took his moment, white, and soft pastel colors, but the shapes. The models donned looks small orbs on the wrist, and giant ones on the shoulders. Look #24, short, with the big fan and bow is a knockout.

A fashion show as a circus setting, Maria Chiura commands couture by making her looks themed around a most elegant clown. All the world loves a circus. I liked the 68 pieces presented. Look #4, sheer black stripped with collar, red sheet mini skirt is precious.

Jean Paul Gaultier presented 63 looks. The verdict, still on the edge but not fighting for the rest of us to catch up. The classic breton stripes, fringes, pointy shoulders from a Flash Gordon film could inflict harm but on a runway model proved visually dramatic. The soft baby blue, #56, halter top, mini ruffles with train peaked my interest.

Chanel’s homage to lush and wealth of past stood front and center. Lagerfeld focused on rigid forms and strong shoulders for the 62 look show at the Grand Palais. The embroided strapless of look #54 is a keeper.

Galliano at Maison Margiela destroys, interprets only to reconstruct. The two piece black look. #32, leather pants and cropped sleeveless bolero jacket is for the nightlife.

Guo Pei turns couture collections into Asian fairytales. Skirts, thigh high boots, silks, and floral patterns for the Femme Fatal of the Orient. The silver silk , #5, or organza dress with head piece is precious.