Paris is abuzz with the
Haute Couture runway shows, and in a time of economic recession, reporters have one question on their minds: Why and how would someone want to spend $30,000 on a jacket or $150,000 on a gown? To that question ,
John Galliano, of
Christian Dior answered THIS on
Style.com: "There's a credit crunch, not a creative crunch. Of course, everyone is being more careful with discretionary purchases. I am. But it's our job to make people dream and to provide the value in quality, cut, and imagination" You go Girl!
Chrisitan DiorFor his Dior Spring/Summer Haute Couture, Galliano was inspired by Dutch and Flemish painters; Vermeer, Van Dyck and Monsieur Dior of course. You can see in the re-working of his 1947 New Look Jacket Shapes and his full skirts and ball gowns toward the end of his collection. Dior's women DO NOT SIT for cocktails, they stand and look fabulous holding a Vodka Martini! Forget about sitting for dinner in front of a table--try doing that in one of those Haute Couture fitted dresses with full-circled front "attachments" with eight inch wide Horsehair encircling almost every single hem. And be sure not to miss the Carla Bruni-Sarkozy soundtrack in his runway show (click below for the videos). Bless. John. Galliano. Marvelous!
Christian LacroixFor Spring '09, Christian Lacroix continued doing what he does best: His masterful and one of a kind creations blending the feminine with the romantic with obvious nods to historical costume references, and deftly mixing 8 different fabrications IN ONE seemingly simple and elegant cocktail number. Perfect for that Dubai debutante in need of a dress for attend just another Friday night party!
Simply enchanting, isn’t it?
Lost in the smoke…
Is this the stairway to heaven?
The world can go to hell!
Till next time…
A helping hand…
Birds landing on a statue.
This is simply, truly enchanting. Really
Calm, focused.
Approximately 1500 years old; look at the area covered by this thing!
12. Umbrella
Lonely umbrella.
This is, actually, the inside of a paper-towel tube
Lonely, but hopeful.
This is a void between the 2711 blocks of the Memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin.
Beautiful shot of snow covered Tehran.
Majestic.
Keep the ship clear of this ‘un!
The Twins taking their DSquared bow, in their white dinner jackets and high-heeled boots
DSquared2: Shrunken Shearling
DSquared2: Don't throw your vests out of your closet just yet
Gucci: Shrunken cardigan, skinny tie and skinny pants
Gucci: Shrunken suits
As is tradition, Menswear Designers show their collections to the world in Milan and Paris right before Haute Couture Fashion Week. And of course, this season was no exception. One of the highlights I wanted to show you was John Galliano's collection. 
It was a decadent flight into his vision for what men should be wearing come next Fall/Winter: Imagine the mythical "Pan"--Half-man half-goat then throw in some Colonial Dandies in 18th-century decadence (and 21st-century micro-mini underwear), add a dash of "Slumdog Millionaire"/Bollywood music and throw in 20,000 candles and an acre of crystal shards and glitter....and well, you've got yourself a very entertaining vision only Galliano's mind could conjure up. And some actually very wearable shearlings, vests and fierce jackets (oh, I swear I wasn't going to say FIERCE!)
Click BELOW for John Galliano Fall 09/10 for Men runway videos
Chrisitan Dior
Christian Lacroix
