This Haute Couture season was truly one to remember. Designers from across the board demonstrated their eccentric flair through draping techniques, fine artistry, optical illusions and more.

More Than Meets The Eye

You can’t always believe everything you see. If that’s one thing Couture Week taught us, it’s that. Designers showcased their ability to manipulate certain fabrics by imitating others. Valentino’s Métier kickstarted his Couture show with a seemingly simple pair of denim jeans which are in fact made of countless miniscule pearlescent beads sewn together. This trompe l’œil was achieved through dying the beaded ‘denim’ in 80 shades of indigo. We see the same skill being practised over at 10 Avenue George V, where Balenciaga expertly hand-paints onto fabric in the guise of a fur coat.

Designers In Full Bloom

Beds of flowers lined the runways despite this couture week’s promise of an Autumn/Winter collection. Mr. Armani went so far as to form his entire collection around the rose, a symbol of passion and sophistication. His reinterpretation of the thorn-bearing flower is a reminder that resilience is beautiful.

Florals also blossomed in the garden of the Indian maestro, Rahul Mishra. His belief in working as a collective alongside his artisans is delicately illustrated in the subtleties of the floral embroideries. Upon a closer inspection, silhouettes of tiny people working can be spotted on some of the dresses, almost as if they were mini self-portraits etched into the garment’s fabric. 

Pulling Back The Curtain

This couture season saw a lot of purposeful nonchalance being exercised under the roofs of many fashion houses. In particular, Valentino’s show was a lesson on effortless elegance, achieved by draping fabrics at multiple angles, particularly around the shoulders, neck and hips.