Runway Report--Paris Fashion Week--Elie Saab Fall/Winter 2012/2013--Photos + Full Runway Video

Day-to-Award Show Evening...

Karlie Does Lunch: Model Karlie Kloss begins the Elie Saab Fall/Winter 2012/2013 runway show

Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab also capped off Paris Fashion Week last week showing his Pret-a-Porter collection. He is, of course, more famous for his Haute Couture red carpet gowns ("The Artist" actress Berenice Bejo wore one of his $100,000+ creations at the 2012 Academy Awards), but that doesn't mean he can't show his $20,000 versions as well for Ready-to-Wear. This Fall/Winter 2012/2013 collection began with "Day Wear" --very fitted suits and shift dresses as well as coats, and separates. Then of course, it went to all-out sequined, dangerously high-slit (check out the video at the end of this post) glamour. 6 foot tall St. Louis Missouri Super Catwalk Diva Karlie Kloss began the show and then had like TEN outfit changes--well, more like three, but who's counting! I, for one, would LOVE to have seen Miss Karlie in TEN!!!

Below are photos from the collection followed by the complete runway video:

Office Train: A "Day Look" from Elie Saab Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Peplum Beige: Elie Saab Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Cape Catwalk: Elie Saab Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Karlie Jersey: Model Karlie Kloss in Elie Saab Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Karlie Sequin: Model Karlie Kloss in Elie Saab Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Oscar Gold: Elie Saab Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Click Below for Elie Saab Fall/Winter 2012/2013 Full Runway Video:

Runway Report--Paris Fashion Week--Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Fall/Winter 2012/2013--Photos + Full Runway Video

Cold, Crystal, Pant-suited Chanel Fortress...

Paris Ready to Wear (Pret-a-Porter) Fashion Week ended last week and the Chanel fashion show was one of the highlights--as usual. Designer Karl Lagerfeld created a cold, winter crystallized "fortress" of sorts for all the show's guests. In terms of the Chanel Fall/Winter 2012 silhouette, it was the three-piece suit--as in jacket, skirt...and pants! Every single exit showed an ensemble with pants in one form or another--nothing new for Chanel or Emperor Karl. It was a very chic look. Colors were black, violet/royal blue, grey, burgundy, green and variations on each.

Lesage Eyebrows, Chanel Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Of standout: the Lesage (the Chanel-owned Haute Couture beading and embroidery firm) covered eyebrows on each and every model. Below are photos from the runway show followed by the complete runway video:

Tweed Chic: Supermodel Stella Tennant, Chanel Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Baby Chanel: A Mommy-son look from Chanel Fall/Winter 2012/2013

UBER Fab: Chanel Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Feathered Evening: Chanel Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Royal (Blue) Three-Piece: Chanel Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Layered Boho: Chanel Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Click Below for Chanel Fall/Winter Pret-a-Porter (Ready-to-Wear) 2012/2013 Full Runway Video:

Runway Report--Paris Fashion Week--Louis Vuitton by Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2012/2013--Photos + Full Runway Video

First Class Boarding Now...

Gilded Coat: Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2012

To cap off Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2012/2013, Marc Jacobs
showed his vision for Louis Vuitton. The collection read like a love letter to the house's travel-luggage origins--down to the real live steam engine that barreled down the runway at the start of the show.

There were porters to carry the models' bags, like First Class-traveling DIVAS getting off the Paris-Venice express. The collection was very "retro" but still "Marc Jacobs Modern"--showing references to the early 1900's, 20's, 30's--very turn-of-the-century: ankle-length skirts, high hats, elongated jackets...some of the clothes were even stitched in a checkerboard pattern reminiscent of the iconic Damier that covers Vuitton trunks. The clothes were luxuriously detailed: giant jeweled brooches served as the buttons for coats, and sparkling appliques adorned lurex-threaded brocades that had been made by hand.

Printed Traveler: Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2012

Some of these clothes, yes, will end up in all the Louis Vuitton boutiques around the world (a lot is just for the runway show of course) and maybe, just maybe, a millionaire's girlfriend will buy one of those printed coats, but naturally, it will all be about the accessories:

Violet Shopping Bag, Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2012

Sequined Overnighter: Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2012

Oh, and did I mention, the Front Row was very A-List: Catherine Deneuve and Sarah Jessica Parker, Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2012

Below are more photos of the collection and at the end, the full runway video:

Can You Get my Bags? Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2012

Ostrich-and-Sequin Sleeper Seat: Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2012

Retro Class: Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2012

Click Below for Full Runway Video of Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2012/2013:

Runway Report--Paris Fashion Week--Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2012/2013--Photos + Full Runway Video

Fashion Snow Bunny:

Antarctic Couture: Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Sarah Burton, Creative Director and Designer for the House of Alexander McQueen showed her Fall/Winter 2012/2013 Collection in Paris yesterday. From looking at the photos and runway video, it all looked like a Winter Fashion Diva Fantasy. Shapes organically exploded as the show went on. As if this little Snow Bunny just got more and more FIERCE as it got colder and colder--in her Swiss Alps Chalet--or Antarctic Hideaway...

Burton's Winter Wonderland of Snow Divas began with ivory and creme coats--in graphic jacquard and brocades accented with Mongolian lamb, goat fur and ostrich furs. Then there was the group made of laser-cut pony skin mounted on leather (above photo).

Accessories included sci-fi visors and...

Fur-clad booties : Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2012/2013

The shapes--in skirts, aforementioned coats and dresses were very "pod"-like. These then exploded into tiered gowns. One tiered dress had--according to one of the McQueen Atelier sewers--EIGHTY godets! This is Couture-like workmanship. I highly doubt any of these grand objects will ever make it to retail or any of the McQueen stores but I'm sure we will see toned-down sellable variations instead. And yes, they will have plenty of that "Pippa" cowl-front dress too! But we all know, Miss Lady Gaga will be saving some of these runway looks just for herself! Next Winter...Lady Gaga: the McQueen Snow Bunny!

Debutante Ball in Svalbard: Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Turn Up the Heat: Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Pink Powder Puff Girl: Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Red Pouf: Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Where's my Snow Mobile Chauffeur? Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2012/2013

Click Below for the Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton Fall/Winter 2012/2013 Collection Full Runway Video:

Runway Report--Milan Fashion Week--Versace Fall/Winter 2012

1997 Meets 2012:

Cross To Bare: Versace Fall/Winter 2012

Designer Gianni Versace's final collection was his Couture 1997 Collection. His sister, Donatella, who rules the Versace World, showed her recent offering for the House of Versace and it was inspired by this last collection of her brother's.

Naomi Campbell in the Gianni Versace Couture Ad Campaign Fall/Winter Haute Couture 1997

This collection had Religious and Gothic overtones and so did Donatella's. Therefore LOTS and LOTS of crosses. The mood was dark, sexy and very, very Rooney Mara (she's been a Muse of sorts for these Fall/Winter Collections). Colors: Black, Canary Yellow, Neon Orange, Silver, Ivory. Fabrications: leather, silk, metallic-silk. The peplum is a highlighted detail as well as fitted shapes and dresses (quelle surprise! It's Versace!) Oh and yes, Logo-a-Go-Go Dresses are Back...How 90's is that!?

Here are images from the latest Versace Fall/Winter 2012 Collection--plus full runway video at end of this post:

Church Gal: Versace Fall/Winter 2012

Religion On Top: Versace Fall/Winter 2012

Canary Yellow Fab: Versace Fall/Winter 2012

Peplum Logo: Versace Fall/Winter 2012

One-Shoulder Goddess: Versace Fall/Winter 2012

Click Below for the Full Runway Video of Versace Fall/Winter 2012 Collection:

Runway Report: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012--Photos + Runway Video

Welcome to Chanel Airways, Would Like Some Warm Nuts?

Coffee, Tea or...Couture: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Today, the House of Chanel and its GOD--I mean--designer Karl Lagerfeld, showed the latest Chanel Haute Couture Collection, for Spring 2012. Chanel's shows have always been a spectacle--who can forget that Underwater World Lagerfeld created for Chanel's Spring/Summer 2012 Ready To Wear show with Florence Welch singing last October...

Or the Gigantic Bronzed Lion in the middle of the Grand Palais for the Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2010 show (above photo). Well, this time, the set was an airplane cabin. A Super First Class airplane cabin, mind you. The seats were all diagonally situated (for better view down the aisle) and each guest's invitation, according to Cathy Horyn of the New York Times, had placements like "2A" and 6B" on them.

Sleeper Seat: A "Hint" of the Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012 Collection

Lagerfeld flies a lot so maybe this was an "Homage" airline travel--but I think it had more to do with Blue, the sky and all shades of the color. There were about 60 exits, almost all in blue--different shades of blue. It was as if Lagerfeld had Wikipedia'ed "Shades of Blue" and then demanded garments in all those shades!

Couture Client--Lady in Fur: The woman on the right--in the mink--is my new IDOL!!!! Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

The collection was beautiful, very client-oriented (not so many --Colors: Blue, all shades of it. Plus some white and almost-black (I think people call it "midnight blue"). Silhouettes/shapes: the Drop Waist is a Chanel staple and it was evident in this Spring 2012 Haute Couture Collection. Almost ever look had horizontal pockets.

Pocket Princesses: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

$40,000+ Chanel Haute Couture suits in wool-silk boucle had the ease of $100 denim jeans, as each model sauntered down the airplane cabin aisle with their hands half-perched inside the pockets.

Portrait Perfect: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Details included portrait-style collars; billowing bell/blouson sleeves--raglan and set-in-armholes; fitted sheath and shift dresses; varying lengths--above-the-knee or ankle-length. The bead-work was exquisite, as always--all hand-done and all Lesage, I am sure. Take a look at some of these marvelous ready-for-a-First Class Suite Flight--clothes:

Blouson Lunch: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Sky-High Hair: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Sequined Skies: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Jet Blue: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Choix de Mariage: Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012

Click Below for Full Runway Video of Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012: