Givenchy 2010 Fall Haute Couture

I have been worried about Givenchy Haute Couture for quite sometime because of itscontinuously reduced number of looks and this season (and perhaps from this season onward), Riccardo Tisci abandoned runway for intimate presentation. I wonder if the brand is thinking about actual withdrawal from Haute Couture (think of Versace) but I am hoping that the raving critics' acclaims will keep Givenchy Haute Couture alive (It would seem that I was wrong to worry about Givenchy Haute couture collections, as the entire collection of this season was purchased by a wealthy wife of the CEO of Harrod's, which, I suspect is an unprecedented sales in the history of Haute Couture. It would have cost the lady several million dollars). Although the nimber of looks is down to 10 this season, each looks represent hours and hours of painstaking work. Catsuit decorated with Swarovski crystals took whooping 1600 hours to create and one of the golden dress took 6 months to finish. Riccardo Tisci's signature gothic romanticism was clearly evident in the intricate laces that resembled skeletal structure of human anatomy and belts that looked like spinal cords. Riccardo Tisci stated that the inspiration came from the artist Frida Kahlo and her three obsessions; religion, sensuality and human anatomy. All of the looks were incredibly beautiful and elegant, what Haute Couture is all about.

-Seph-

Full collection in MQ

Images from www.style.com

Chanel 2010 Fall Haute Couture

I thought Lagerfeld will never be able to top what he did for the set of Chanel's 2010 Fall Pret-a-Porter collection and I was proven wrong. Lagerfeld placed gigantic golden statue of roaring lion with its paw resting on a pearl bead in the middle of historic Grand Palais in Paris. It was majestic, proud and regal and that was exactly what this season's collection was all about. The show started off with the usual, meticulously tailored Chanel emsembles with amazing cut then moved on to breathtaking masterpiece dresses. The final wedding dress, which looks like a sequined dress to the naked eyes, was actually made of literally millions (Lagerfeld estimated in his interview more than 2 million paillets have been used) of tiny Camilla flower paillets (all hand-sewn). This collection seems to share the inspiration of 2006 Fall Haute Couture collection for Chanel. Many garments resonated strong medieval feel, with its moodier colours and tapestry inspired embroideries, but this collection seemed more mature and even, perhaps, darker. Despite all the sequins, beads, crystals and embroideries, what I felt was amazing restraint and almost militaristic discipline which added to the elegance of the collection.

-Speh-

Full collection in HQ

Images from www.vogue.it

Who is the groom in the lion mask? You guessed it, he is none other than Baptiste Giabiconi (again)