[ot-caption title=”Haute couture is the bolder side of fashion, with looks that will end up in the pages of magazines or on red carpets rather than the streets of major cities. (via Christopher Macsurak/Wikimedia Commons)”]

[spacer height=”10px” id=”2″]It’s that time of year again, when world-renowned designers, fashion connoisseurs, and models come together to see or present what Paris has to offer. From January 22nd to the 26th, designers flaunted their pieces down the runway, in Haute Couture Fashion Week 2017. The shows ran from morning to night, with models flaunting the clothing of prominent designers, including Chanel, Valentino, Dior, and Giorgio Armani. Clothes and esteemed couturiers came from all around the globe, including fashion capitals such as Milan and New York, to prepare for one of the biggest events in fashion.

[spacer height=”10px” id=”2″]Paris Haute Couture Week is one of the most anticipated fashion events in the world with pieces from various designers strutting down runways biannually. Many pieces are hand-stitched in Paris ateliers, truly expressing the uniqueness and distinctiveness of these fashion articles. Each designer must adhere to the rules set by the Fédération Française de La Couture, stating that designers must put on two haute couture shows a year and have workshops in France.

[spacer height=”10px” id=”2″]This year the trends have been rather distinct, yet varied considerably.  The uses of materials and technologies define what haute couture is all about: innovation. Meanwhile, at Chanel, Lily-Rose Depp sported a baby pink, ruffled dress with small buttons running down the front and an oversized belt, as well as large ruffled sleeves. Another talented designer, Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri, dressed her models in whimsical gowns, spirited with full skirts, tulle, and spring-themed flowers. Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli, showed his first couture collection as a solo designer. He had worked collaboratively on collections for Valentino with Maria Grazia Chiuri until she left Valentino in July of 2016 and joined Dior in November of 2016. Piccioli created a whimsical wonderland of sheer pastel dresses with detailed appliques and eye-catching gowns of metallic colors.  Contrasting these formal attires were light-wash dad jeans, studded leather jackets and hoodies, shown alongside a knee-length fur coat and silk dresses; this men’s and women’s show brought a more casual touch to couture, courtesy of designer Demna Gvasalia for Vetements.

[spacer height=”10px” id=”2″]As expected, Haute Couture Week did not disappoint. Numerous designers created a bold statement with their individualistic pieces, each containing its own story and theme. Although it would be hard to pinpoint an exact trend of Couture Week, it is nonetheless easy to say that one can predict seeing designs inspired by the runaway at local stores this year.

Sources: Chanel, Dior, Valentino, Vogue

Photo Source: Christopher Macsurak via Wikimedia Commons