Paris, the center of the fashion universe, is having its twice yearly Haute Couture shows, this round for spring 2015 and celebs were a fixture in the audience as with Natalie Portman at Dior, and on the runway as with reality star Kendall Jenner at Chanel. The grand display of creativity for the designer is a much smaller affair than the ready-to-wear shows with actual paying customers, a few press people and of course, celebrities in attendance. Flying to Paris to attend is more common than it once was for the Hollywood elite. Indeed you’ll find many wearing Haute Couture on the Red Carpet, which has fast become the brand’s creative statement. Kate Hudson, Jessica Chastain and Amy Adams all wore Atelier Versace to the Golden Globes this year which is the bespoke or couture arm of the Versace business.
Several of the shows concluded already and celebrities were seen flanking the front rows as slender models marched in rarified pieces of wearable art. Its the show of shows for ardent fashion followers with designers exhibiting their most creative sides.
At Chanel the Grand Palais was transformed from white origami coldness to a blossoming Garden Of Earthly Delights. The circular stage came alive after a Tom Sawyer type model skipped through the runway watering the garden. After watering, flowers popped to attention in technicolor and the female models began their walk. The females tricked out in beautifully tailored suits, some with midriff baring cropped jackets and many wearing a tulle covered Victorian hat. The all in one sock-shoe continues from previous seasons but now they are flat to the ground; not a heel or platform in sight. Royal blue and Florida orange were strong statements with two looks in those hues top to bottom. Kris Jenner sat in the audience to see her daughter Kendall who modeled wearing a tulle skirt, black net over her eyes and perfect red lips. She tweeted out a photo of her and Lagerfeld soon after the show. Dylan Penn the daughter of Robin Wright and Shawn Penn, also sat in the audience as well as a Chanel favorite and now Uniqulo collaborator, Ines de la Fressange.
At Atelier Versace, Kate Hudson and her mother Goldie Hawn attended. Kate wore a transparent swirl cut out dress that is fast becoming the Versace’s trademark look. Her mother, Goldie Hawn looked gorgeous in a chic black fur. Primary colors took center stage with fire-engine red, royal blue and white iterations of Ms Hudson’s dress as the take away. Her dress was much talked about because it revealed lots of Kate that we hadn’t seen—as in slit revealing part of her backside. The collection was minus decoration, beading or any adornment. Donatello chose to make sexy sheer swirls her statement and forget the embellishments.
Natalie Portman and her husband Benjamin Millipied attended Raf Simmons for Dior’s show looking like true residents of the city. Well, they were in the neighborhood anyway and sat next to Marisa Berenson. The show began with a clear vinyl rain slicker, painted in a mottled pattern, over a silk- floret covered dress . There were thigh-high patent go-go boots with almost every passage’.  A unitard with a graphic floral pattern made an appearance and looks with  bright stripes including vibrant lemon, and royal ( a shoe-in trend). There was a huge crinolined skirted dress that stood out literally and figuratively one in royal blue lace that was a show-stopper followed by more full-skirted wonders.
Haute Cuisine
January 28, 2015Best Places to Sample the Food While You Shop in LA
