Left: Givenchy Couture Fall 2011 courtesy of Givenchy. Right: Chanel Couture Fall 2011 shot by Peter Stigter.
After Monday’s Dior mess, we could only hope to have our faith restored by the rest of the collections at Paris Couture Week. And we got our wish with the stellar back-to-back Givenchy and Chanel shows last night.
In his typical presentation format, Riccardo Tisci showcased, yet again, why his designs could more accurately be described as works of art. Ten painstakingly detailed gowns were adorned with feathers, fringe, plumes, pearls, zippers and beading, and ranged in colour from beige to white (a break from the designer’s usual proclivity for darkness). Accented waistlines, bodice cutouts and sheer skirts exemplified Tisci’s own description of his collection as “pure couture.”
Later in the evening, Karl Lagerfeld’s collection for Chanel was showcased against a sparkling, neon-outlined recreation of Place Vendôme at the Grand Palais. In the centre, a glass statue of a suited Coco Chanel held court. A grand showcase of the enduring Chanel suit (shown in navy, fuchsia, grey and black), the collection effortlessly straddled the classicism of the storied house and the modern strides of its current designer. And did we mention that the heels lit up?
