Annabel Rackham
Culture reporter
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Lily-Rose Depp, Dua Lipa, Marion Cotillard were on the front row for the Chanel Haute Couture show
Brands including Dior, Chanel and Armani Privé showcased their new collections at a high-profile Haute Couture Week in Paris, with their shows attracting a host of global celebrities.
Chanel’s show was unsurprisingly star-studded, with Dua Lipa, Lily-Rose Depp and Kylie Jenner dressed in signature styles from the fashion house’s archives.
Blackpink’s Jennie Kim was among the other A-list onlookers at the Grand Palais.
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Over on the runway, the offering was a perfect spring palette of creams and pinks, with plenty of nods to classic Chanel tweed.
The show was a celebration of the fashion house’s 110 years in haute couture, using huge ramps that aerially displayed the double C motif of the brand.
Created by Chanel’s in-house team of designers (new creative director Matthieu Blazy won’t be exhibiting his first collection until later this year), it took inspiration from Coco Chanel’s 1980s colour palette.
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Pastels and tweed were on the agenda at the Chanel haute couture show
Megan’s space queen
Megan Thee Stallion had one of the week’s most eye-catching looks, a retrofuturistic fusion she described as “primitive space Cleopatra”.
Her outfit was made from cascading silver chains, which WWD said were inspired by “payals”, a type of ankle jewellery traditionally worn to ward off evil spirits. Designer Gaurav Gupta said the US rapper’s outfit “embodies the spirit of tribal India”.
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Megan Thee Stallion described her look as “primitive space Cleopatra”
Dior’s fairytale fantasy
At Christian Dior’s show, Anya Taylor-Joy and Jenna Ortega opted for gothic but daring looks.
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Artistic vision and craftsmanship are what separate haute couture from high fashion, and both were on display on the Christian Dior runway.
Maria Grazia Chiuri’s collection was said to draw inspiration from Alice in Wonderland, with much of the designs looking like they belonged to the fantasy world.
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Dior’s impressive catwalk looks were inspired by Alice in Wonderland
The show was described by many as dramatic – with dresses that more closely resembled lampshades, complete with delightful feathers, tassels and tulle.
Chiuri said the collection was a result of her recent research into historical fashion.
Valentino’s jesters get serious
Also borrowing from history was Valentino’s haute couture show, which was one of the most anticipated events of the week.
Away from the from springtime pastels and prints, Alessandro Michele’s debut couture collection was full of clashing colours and harlequin print fit for a court jester.
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Valentino’s creative designs left little to the imagination, with historical fashion one of the central themes
Michele, whose prominence grew after a stint designing for Gucci, is known for his love of accessories – whether hats, bows or out-there embroidery.
The stand-out design was a chiffon ballgown that reportedly took the fashion house 54 days to make.
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To add to the spectacle, half of the models were over 50. “Time provides grace and it multiplies beauty,” Michele said of the decision.
Armani still on top at 90
Age was also no barrier for 90-year-old Giorgio Armani, who walked the runway in a black velvet tuxedo to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of his haute couture atelier Armani Privé.
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Giorgio Armani walked the runway with a model during the Armani Privé Haute Couture show
The show’s main guest was Oscar best actress nominee Demi Moore, who collected her Golden Globe award in a dress by the designer last month.
Armani’s show followed on from the feeling of the fantastical that’s been present across much of this week, with embellishments aplenty.
Trouser suits were donned with sequins, while glittery beanies and diamond-encrusted clutch bags were also a highlight.
Armani said the collection was for “a modern woman who has travelled widely and internalised her experiences”.
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Armani Privé’s show was all about accessories and embellishment, with jewel-encrusted bags and beanie hats
