PFW: Iris van Herpen Haute Couture SS'13

The collection at Iris van Herpen was definitely a showstopper- a summation of what haute couture really is and what it should be; full of fantasy and high concept.  Here we see a sophisticated collision of subtlety and the abstract, yet another wonderful interpretation of the modern woman- tough and sweet, strong yet made of flesh. The concept is said to be an exploration of the electricity of the body, and the pieces aimed to convey a sense of tangibile force. Despite my initial giggle due to the sea urchin parallels, I grew to love the juxtaposition of such steely hardware and the burlesque flash of decolleté- but nothing too distasteful of course. The futuristic blend of near-aquatic elements and a feel for armoury by way of steely spikes, razor-sharp laser cut patterns and severe angles, against a stark palette of black and white worked well in creating a burst of primordial force in 3D. This is fashion and intellect at its best.

[images: Showstudio]

PFW: Chanel Haute Couture S/S'13

The Kaiser created a mini forest inside the Grand Palais for his Spring Haute Couture showcase, and the models came out looking like birds from the Snow Queen's gardens. Adorned with feathery fascinators and a Kubrick-esque smoky eye, the Chanel girls glided down the runway in beautiful demure dresses in ethereal white, navy and black- classic and chic but not so austere thanks to an interlude of romantic floral accents. Classic Chanel elements were present; the LBD, camelias, tweed bouclés, and clean lines topped off by incredibly chic (there's no other word for it!) thigh high boots in lace and starlight silver leather. Finishing off the collection was the parade of snowy bridal dresses trimmed with a cloud of feathers, lace and pearl beading. Lagerfeld's silhouette was as willowy as ever with closed shoulders and closely fitted skirts, save for a couple of billowing chiffon dresses- which only emphasised the elegant, birdlike feel of the collection.

  

[images: Showstudio]