Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week - Spring 2013

Atelier Versace was a modern take on the Versace aesthetic with lots of structured details involved, yet Donatella chose to close the show with a range of neon evening gowns that I wasn't really fond of; shiny material gone wrong! My favorite piece of Versace's show at Paris Haute Couture fashion week was a golden metallic blazer worn as a dress, very pop-star on a music tour.

Then there was the Giambattista Valli show, who's becoming a couture master. The young designer had "floral and fauna" as his theme. He started off his show at Paris Haute Couture fashion week with monochromatic pieces in animal prints and then shifted towards a more romantic appeal with floral appliques and blush tones, showcasing dresses that are fit for a princess. 

With the Dior show, spring was definitely in the air with such an amazing setup of an indoors garden. Raf Simons continued to present his modern take on the Dior allure as the models walked around the rows of greenery in bright hued gowns with exquisite silhouettes. 

The Spring 2013 couture shows witnessed the absence of Alexander McQueen and Givenchy shows (sob!), but there were also designers debuting their first couture shows such as Alexis Mabille who presented an array of candy colored styles. The French designer's love for bows and froufrou was evident throughout the collection at Paris Haute Couture fashion week, but the most striking look was a black tuxedo style dress with a high slit! 

Moving on to Chanel, the show that had two brides at its finale was setup in a forest like atmosphere. Karl Lagerfeld sent the models down the runway in thigh-high lace and leather boots, lots of tweeds and feathers and gothic inspired hair and makeup. Cutest bit of the show? Young Hudson as a pageboy who has become a fixture at the Chanel shows.

The Middle East was present in full throttle at the Giorgio Armani Privé show at Paris Haute Couture fashion week, where each model had a tarbouche on her head and tribal prints were dominating. 

Elie Saab's collection was oozing with glamorous beading, each dress can make a demure shimmering red carpet look. The show-stopper of the show had to be the bridal gown!

Jean Paul Gaultier was inspired by India and presented a collection that is full of long flowy dresses but also had his signature bustier top. He ended the show with an over-the-top bridal gown that had little girls hidden beneath it, quite a theatrical moment at Paris Haute Couture fashion week!

It isn't a Valentino show without Valentino's shade of red on the runway! Inspired by the garden, the designers behind the Italian fashion house displayed at Paris Haute Couture fashion week a highly crafted collection with floral motifs and patterns that looked like its inspired by antique bird cages.

As the designers behind Maison Martin Margiela like to keep themselves anonymous, they prefer to keep the models on the runway anonymous as well by covering their faces in embroidered masks. Talk about fancy! The most interesting pieces were the latest looks at the show that were made of colored candy wrappers.

Last but not least, the Zuhair Murad show at Paris Haute Couture fashion week was all about golden hues, presenting a collection of gowns that are ready to be worn at the Oscars red carpet!