Paris Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011: Valentino--Photos and Entire Runway Video!!

Big (Valentino) Love:

Amalfi Coast Yacht Party: Silk plisse gown with Ruff-neck cape featuring circular "Valentino" hem detail, Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Valentino House Designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli showed their latest offering for Haute Couture this past week in Paris. It was an elegant, subdued, more "realistic" vision of Couture, which is what Valentino has always been known for. Very 60's, early 70's influences and lots of nods to the House, including Lady-Like "Daywear"--almost very "HBO's Big Love"-esque, ultra feminine evening, and THAT "Valentino Red" naturally peeked through. This looks like a very sellable collection and meant for Valentino's older client base as well as their granddaughters with taste.

Where's My Caprese Salad: From Lunch to Cocktails, Valentino blush silk organza ruffled dress, Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Trends: Opaque colors, light roses, blush, red, white, nude-beige, dull blue; Lady-Like dressing; braided hair; RUFFLES Galore; high necklines; covered shoulders; mini ruffs at the neck; Neat put-together looks; lower more sensible heels.

Valentino Proper: This Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 look from above, looks a lot like...

Something actress Chloe Sevigny's character in HBO's "Big Love", would LOVE

Themes: Chloe Sevingy in HBO's "Big Love" meets Lady Who Lunches; Traditional Couture; Elizabeth Taylor meets Jackie O circa 1960.

Highlights from Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011:

Campari and Soda Please: Nude-colored coat dress with bow waist tie and mini convertible collar, Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Apres Beach: Plunging ruffled neckline day-to-cocktail dress, Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Hostess of The Ball: High-necked ruffled silk organza gown, Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Hello Angelina Jolie: Red blouson camisole gown, Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Click Below For a Preview Video of Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011, showing the Seamstresses in Rome sewing EVERY PIECE by hand, the Fit Model modeling the clothes and then the Paris pre-show alterations and fittings:

Click Below for Entire Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 Runway Show:

Paris Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2010: Elie Saab and Valentino

Cowl Heaven...and Classique Couture Shapes...
Cowl Wrapped: Elie Saab Haute Couture F/W 2010/11

Lebanese-born, Red Carpet-favorite Elie Saab showed his Fall/Winter 2010/11 Haute Couture Collection. It was very HEAVY, both in its fabrications as well as dramatic draping. But to me, Heavy in a good way. There's no mistake: It's Fall kids.Deep red velvets, muted silver organza, dark camel silk crepes, degrade chiffon and lots of hand-beading rounded out the color and fabrications he offered this season to the "Ladies Who Live and Lunch In Kuwait" who love their Elie Saab Haute Couture. Shapes ranged from exaggerated pleated structures, cowl drapes galore, one-shoulder Grecian Goddess gowns and a play on asymmetry.Fashion writer Tim Blanks of Style.com was not amused by the collection. But, I have to say: I kind of liked it! Yes, some of those gowns looked as if the models were drowning in them (as Tim Gunn would say: That's A LOT of Gown!) but...I'm a big fan of cowl draping, the "Grecian Goddess" motif, and lots of drama (what part of Nick Verreos did you not understand!). And of course, if you have a couple $100,000 to spare and are getting married and thinking against the "traditional" white satin gown...Well, this gray-silver ball gown above might be what you might want to be ordering. Besides, Queen Rania of Jordan, the Multi-Millionaire Brides-to-be LOVE themselves some Elie Saab, as we know.

Click Below for Elie Saab F/W 2010/11 Haute Couture Runway Show Edited:


Valentino Haute Couture:
For Fall/Winter Haute Couture 2010/11, Designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli (above) decided to go "Vintage Couture". It was very 60's in a way, with 21st Century design nuances. Think Jackie O.-meets-Jessica Alba (who was in the front row). It was as if one was going through a "Valentino Archive Book" from the 60s--which, in a way is what the designers are most likely doing. The runway show began very "cagey" (see above) and then went 60's Valentino Couture.This black mini cocktail dress above with "exploding" organza rose is SO Valentino , SO Couture and yet, still SO modern. Also, it is very editorial and you just know Vogue Italia and Steven Meisel will EAT IT UP! The defining shape of the collection was definitely the trapeze off-the-body/Baby Doll shape and... The timeless "drop-waist". The Valentino Haute Couture F/W 2010/11 Collection showed LOTS of these latter styles, with ruffled bottoms that were cut right at the 16" below-the-natural-waist mark, which looked both "vintage" yet new (even if they seemed two sizes too big).
In case you are shopping for that Little Black Dress, look no further than Valentino Haute Couture. This one above was one of my favorites. Imagine being at a party in Capri in this fur-trimmed little number?Of course, being the House of Valentino, the designers had to end with a "Valentino Red" showstopper, and this red silk Gazar gown just about did it for me. If I was one of those ladies in the front row (or ordering from my beachfront home in the Seychelles), I would definitely order this one! Also, note to my friend Miss Heidi Klum: This would look GORGEOUS at any upcoming red carpet awards show! I'll have to call her and let her know...after I show her MY collection :)

Click below for a video of the Finale of the Valentino Haute Couture F/W 2010 Runway: