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The 35 Best Looks From Paris Couture Fashion Week

Brittney Stephens — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:41:57 PST

We've officially wrapped up Paris Couture Fashion Week, and there's certainly a lot to take in. From Chanel's quite literal flight of fancy to Jean Paul Gaultier's runway tribute to Amy Winehouse, we were pretty delighted with the high-end offerings. While some pieces will undoubtedly hit the red carpet on Hollywood's A-list, others are probably best suited for Lady Gaga or Nicki Minaj - but either way, there was surely enough gorgeousness to put us in a bona fide couture coma. We've rounded up 35 of the best looks from the past week - click through to see them all now.

Which Paris Couture Week Looks Were Truly Haute? Vote!

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:15:00 PST

Paris Couture Week never disappoints lovers of innovative hairstyling and makeup, and this season took many of your favorite beauty trends to new levels of drama and decadence. Of the looks that Chanel, Dior, Versace, and all the other big names sent down the runway this week, though, which deserve your thumbs up? See what the big houses had to offer and decide for yourself.

How Well Do You Know Your Couture Spring Collections? Test Your Skills!

Marisa Tom — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:43:43 PST

Now that Paris Couture Fashion Week has showed off its last collection, we thought we'd put your couture knowledge to the test. Whether it be a pretty pastel-hued frock or an intricately embellished gown, were you paying close attention to the Spring 2012 looks coming down each couturier's runway? There's only one way to find out - test your haute knowledge with our fresh-out-of-the-atelier game!

Question 1 of 10

Who paired neoprene brights against peplum silhouettes this season?

Couture Fashion Week: Givenchy

Brittney Stephens — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:14:57 PST

Givenchy's Spring 2012 presentation just validated our longtime desire to play basketball in a couture gown - Riccardo Tisci brought total glamour to the hardwood, showing beautiful '20s and '30s-inspired looks reminiscent of classic science fiction films. It took 350 hours to complete the silk jersey gowns, which were embroidered with scales of crocodile skin, curve-contouring zippers, and opaque beads - making for extraordinarily one-of-a-kind pieces that are sure to bring the ultimate drama to any red carpet. The feminine, slightly edgy collection was simply breathtaking, and we can't wait to see which starlet will sport the pieces this season.

Trends: Crystals, sequins, and lots of intricate beaded detailing; crocodile scales embroidered on silk tulle.
Colors: White, black, and mocha.
Key Look: The long-sleeved, full-length crocodile scale gown.
Accessories: Embellished nose rings and oversize, shoulder-sweeping earrings.
Who Would Wear It: Risk-taking red-carpet stars like Tilda Swinton, Evan Rachel Wood, and Cate Blanchett.

Couture Fashion Week: Valentino

Hannah Weil — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:05:03 PST

Gowns swathed in toile-inspired prints and soft, wallpaper florals hinted at Jane Austin era romance at Valentino. There's a distinctly feminine feel, and a hint of both Parisian decadence and Victorian propriety in the collars, bows, and capes that topped delicate silver-embellished gowns and sheer-topped confections. Everything feels emphatically pretty - the softness, the bow and floral-appliqué adornments; even the slipper-style loafers are done up in the same florals and details.

Trends: Sheer, antique and toile-inspired florals, Victorian collars.
Colors: White, cream, and soft pink, blue, and green.
Key Look: The soft floral-print and embellished strapless gown; the creamy white shift.
Accessories: Embellished and printed loafers.
Who Would Wear It: Claire Danes, Kate Bosworth; the ultra-femme red-carpet beauties.

See All of the Front Row Style From Couture Fashion Week - Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Olsen, and More

Marisa Tom — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:35:16 PST

That's a wrap on Couture Fashion Week. We've seen everything from neoprene brights and peplum at Atelier Versace to sheer cutouts and sequins at Chanel to beautiful pastel embellishments at Elie Saab - all of which, we predict, we'll be seeing on an A-list red carpet very soon. While the couture collections were nothing short of gorgeous, it's time to take one last look at the fresh front row style. At yesterday's Valentino show, Cameron Diaz worked it in a lacy white Valentino minidress and nude pointy-toe pumps, while Dita Von Teese vamped it up at Jean-Paul Gaultier in all black. Keep clicking to get a glimpse of these stylish stars at the Haute Couture shows.

Couture Fashion Week: Elie Saab

Chi Diem Chau — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:42:48 PST

We can already imagine celebrities waiting in line for a piece of Elie Saab's collection. For Spring, Saab emoted pure femininity, highlighting gorgeous gowns dipped in a rainbow of pretty pastel hues. Dresses ranged from short to long, showing intricate floral and beading details, most of which were cinched in with a dainty little bow belt. Meanwhile, streamlined silhouettes kept the look fresh and modern. Sheerness also came into play, adding subtle, sexy mystique to an otherwise overtly feminine collection. The closer? A pink and white floral printed wedding dress complete with a cathedral-length tulle veil. Check our notes below for more details, then click the slideshow to see the rest of the runway presentation.

Trends: Sheer, floral embellishments.
Colors: White, beige, pastel blue, green, and pink.
Key Look: The floral beaded gowns are fit for a red-carpet moment.
Accessories: Ankle-wrap sandals.
Who Would Wear It: Hollywood A-listers like Zoe Saldana, Michelle Williams, and Jessica Biel.

Jean Paul Gaultier Turned All His Models Into Amy Winehouse

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:41:12 PST

Models at the latest Jean Paul Gaultier show were a big surprise when they hit the runway, and not just because of Gaultier's iconoclastic ensembles. The designer sent out an army of Amy Winehouse clones, all bedecked in huge beehives, thick retro eyeliner, and Ms. Winehouse's signature "beauty mark" (which was actually a piercing). One of the doppelgängers was even smoking a cigarette. Gaultier genuinely seems to be inspired by Amy's singular sense of style and her music as well - the soundtrack to the show was comprised entirely of her songs. So far, reviews of the collection are positive, and everyone involved seems well intentioned. Still, given how recently Amy passed, is it fair to ask whether copying her look is appropriate just yet?

Couture Fashion Week: Armani Privé

Hannah Weil — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:06:31 PST

If you glimpsed Giorgio Armani's Spring Couture, you might just have one first thought: he's going green - literally. Initial reactions aside, the palette gives way to a range of vibrant hues that encompass every shade of green. But if you lose yourself in the color, you lose sight of the whole collection, how it marries both the sporty, streamlined menswear in shinning gray tones and the decadent eveningwear that's made Armani a favorite dresser among the Hollywood crowd. The collection doesn't cater definitively to either persona; it gives us both the modern suiting in a glossy, slick finish, then carries over that same contemporary confidence topping a sequined floor-length gown with a jacket tossed effortlessly across the shoulders.

Trends: Pantsuits, texture, sequins.
Colors: Every shade of green, citrus, slick gray, liquid silver, and black.
Key Look: The liquid-silver strapless gown with the embellished jacket tossed nonchalantly over the top.
Accessories: Swirl-shaped fascinators, handheld clutches, elbow-length gloves.
Who Would Wear It: Awards-show A-listers; Cate Blanchett would rock this suiting.

See 100 of the Most Beautiful Looks From Couture Fashion Weeks Past!

Marisa Tom — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:20:08 PST

It's raining couture in Paris as we speak, and we're more than just a little excited to pore over every handcrafted, painstakingly beautiful detail of these custom-fitted, atelier-designed clothes. While the high-fashion looks of Spring 2012 continue to trickle in, we've culled 100 of the most stunning gowns, impeccably tailored suits, and everything in between from Couture Fashion Weeks past. These made-to-order creations are nothing short of masterpieces, more akin to viewing gorgeous pieces of fashion-infused artwork than off-the-rack designs. Keep clicking to view some of the chicest couture from the likes of Chanel, Valentino, Givenchy, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and more. Don't forget to tell us your favorites in the comments!