Paris Haute Couture Shows Bring the Bling

 

The Fall/Winter 2011 Paris Haute Couture shows just wrapped in the city of lights, and - as we all know - where there is Haute Couture? There is bling. And wacky hats.

Here are some of my favorite looks from the event - most from Dior (sans their brilliant wretch, John Galliano) and Armani Prive (house of Oscar, royal weddings and all things Gaga).

Dior

Leprechan's Rejoice! We've got a rainbow of oversized statement necklaces and cocktail rings to gawk at this go round!

Armani Prive

Dior

Dior

I also spotted a return of the gold leaf silhouette at the stunning Giambattista Valli show.

Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli

(P.S. Guess who else is into gold leaf looks these days????)

And no Haute Couture Show would be complete without the chapeau showdown, right?

So there you have it, bling hounds. Colorful, oversized gems, yellow gold, leaf silhouettes and 'hold-on-to your-hair-follicles' headwear are the take-away trends from Paris.


Want the look? I'm thinkin' Jewelry.com's "Bijoux de Chloe" designer collection is the perfect expression of that sentiment - at prices that are frugalista fabulous! Here's a few of their high-fashion looks for less, jewelry hounds. You like?

Red Carpet Jewelry at the CFDAs

Jewelry and fashion design were honored last night in New York at the hottest ticket in town - The CFDA awards (aka The Fashion Oscars). While fashionistas like Jessica Biel, The Olsen Twins and Anna Wintour came out in couture classics, it was Gwenyth Paltrow who stole the show in my book.




Appearing arm and arm with Michael Kors, who was given the Lifetime Achievement Award, Gwynnie channeled Grace Kelly glam in a long, black paillette one shoulder Kors gown and simple diamond Fred Leighton drops. Now THIS is the way to wear black (see my earlier boring black rant for more)!




Coming in a close second was Sarah Jessica Parker, who was there to pay tribute to the late Alexander McQueen (one of my all-time favorite designers). McQueen, who committed suicide earlier this year, had one last line in the works, including this dress SJP wore to the event. And her Stephen Russell jewelry was pitch perfect - stunning diamond cluster earrings and a series of statement bangles (one of her favorite looks of late).



Check out Jewelry.com today for a roundup of the night's big winners, including the fab Alexis Bittar who took home the Accessories Designer of the Year award.

Paris Couture Shows Bring out the Bling

Jewelry hounds, it's been a whirlwind of jewelry looky-looing lately, what with Awards Season in full swing here in the States. But across the pond in Paris there's a 'jewelry as fashion art' display going down that's not to be missed.

The Spring 2010 Paris Couture shows are known for extravagant displays for only the rich and famous, but that doesn't mean we can't lower our jaws from afar, right?

Enter the triumvirate of taste: John Galliano for Dior, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel and Georgio Armani for Armani Prive. I'm already hyperventilating.






Lagerfeld has spoken, folks: 'silver is the new gold' with his first line that hasn't included black, navy or nary a gold button. Silver cuffs and crystal bangles adorned the pastel pallete of classic Chanel looks, with evening wear that used diamond necklaces as part of each gown's structure. Interesting.

Mr. Armani was inspired by the moon this season, and used mother-of-pearl brooches, earrings, and statement necklaces to light up his line.

And my beloved John Galliano has done it again. With the 'eccentric millionairess' as his muse, the Dior designer created a line that had the celebrity front row gasping in approval, according to Style.com.

HUGE statement pieces of crystal and gold in every shade made the elaborate evening wear come to life. And wouldn't you know, the teardrop shape made a glittering appearance here too - (see my recent red carpet coverage for more 'tears').


How's that lower jaw doing? I could gawk at Galiano for days. Not a huge fan of the Lagerfeld looks, and feel the Armani pieces are a bit too one-note for my taste. Kindof like the heart motif Donatella Versace used in Milan's 2008 Fall show. What do you guys think?

Stay tuned for more Paris couture coverage this week, and I'm already saddling up for Sunday's Grammy Awards red carpet. Come Tweet with me!

Spikes, Stilettos and Soda Can Chic

Alexander McQueen may be the only designer in Paris who refused to bow to the conservative malaise blanketing the fashion industry like a lingering rain cloud. Words like ‘sensible’ and ‘accessible’ had no business on his runway yesterday, folks.

Instead, McQueen dazzled the crowd with chain mail suits, lampshade hats, shiny hooded dresses and soda can accessories that screamed to the world, “You can take your economic woe and shove it!”

Think Grace Jones on ‘shrooms.


















According to Style.com, the crowd got in a heated debate after the spectacle – the older folks felt the ‘blow-up doll make-up’ and uncomfortable ensembles were misogynistic. The younger crowd – tired of all the sense and sensibility - couldn’t get enough.

Yet despite the over-the-top headpieces, unwalkable stacked heels and spikey jewelry, there were some incredibly made clothes on display.

Boxy jackets, airy dresses and fiercely tailored coats made a glittering appearance, and biker jacket chic and big shoulders also made an impression.



















But it was the sheer bravado of the line that made the program such a show-stopper. You have to wonder how many seamstresses were needed to make all the feathers and soda cans combine into this freakish display.

We may not see another runway quite like this for a while – so regardless of your sartorial sensibilities – perhaps we should get while the gettin's good.

What do you guys think? Would you wear any of this - or is that not the point?