When browsing through the haute couture collections presented in Paris, it seems most designers are sticking to previously tested formulas. There's a fine line between having a particular style and still push it forward or simply getting sidetracked into a corner.
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| Alexandre Vauthier and Atelier Versace |
The pressure to deliver figures has probably never been so strong and this undermines the creative process which needs space, openness and freedom to occur. So it is understandable in a way but also disappointing, after all fashion is meant to be in tune with the present moment. To go with the flow is the secret of longevity and this phenomenon is clearly seen in the music industry.
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| Elie Saab and Zuhair Murad |
Stars who are able to survive the test of time have undoubtedly adapted their style as they progressed in their careers, we can think of Madonna or Beyonce, who wears both established and emerging fashion designers. She was probably the inspiration behind some provocative couture pieces showing off long legs as she usually does on stage.
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| Atelier Versace and Zuhair Murad |
The relationship between stars and couture continues to be as strong as ever: Katy Perry wore a Valentino gown to the Grammys only a few days after it first appeared on the catwalk show. It was a beautiful and almost poetic dress, embellished with music notes, but overall there was nothing particularly striking this season.
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| Valentino and Elie Saab |
Movie stars can also find something to wear on the red carpet including the beloved Cinderella dress, beautifully crafted by both Giambattista Valli and Zuhair Murad. This style featured in the previous Ulyana Sergeenko couture collection attracting international acclaim when Zhang Yuqi decided to wear it in Cannes, but this season something else caught my eye.
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| Giambattista Valli and Zuhair Murad |
A black dress elongating the silhouette and accentuating the shoulders and neck line. Even though Paris didn't seem to live up to expectations, some collections were punctuated with amazing pieces as shown on the edited images presented here. I hope you enjoy my selection and it's impossible not to add a note about the latest shoe collection by Sarah Jessica Parker.
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| Ulyana Sergeenko and Alexis Mabille |
She embodied the inner struggles of single women in her thirties living in a big city, to such an extent that most people connect with her, even if in real life she has a rock solid marriage, which was able to survive her meteoric rise to fame with Sex in the City. But above all, we appreciate her individual sense of style on and off screen.
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| Sarah Jessica Parker shoe collection |
After wearing the most amazing designers in the world, she literally stepped into their shoes to create a capsule collection. They are as feminine and stylish as she is, but somehow she decided to play safe which is a shame. Still, I'm sure it will be a huge success!
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Couture Fairy Tale
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Fashion Collaborations