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 From France's Chanel to Italy's Versace, more than 20 fashion
houses will show their spring-summer 2016 haute couture
collections, their target some of the world's wealthiest women.
On Monday, Dior presented its first haute couture show since
designer Raf Simons left in October, with a collection put
together by the brand's inhouse team and described as being for
the rushing modern woman.
Referring to founding designer Christian Dior, who the brand
said was "a superstitious man with absolute faith in his lucky
star", the collection was full of symbols and lucky charms on
clothes or necklaces.
The show began with shoulder-baring designs and soon evolved
into outfits made of contrasting cuts and textures, rich in
embroidery on tops, skirts as well as transparent chiffon
dresses. Dior's trademark bar jacket was given a masculine look
while coat versions showed off shoulders.
The label has yet to announce a successor to Simons, who left
after some three years to develop his own label.
"Dior is a permanently moving house ... There has never been a
standstill, it's a permanently moving train and from one
designer to the other, we can even see some acceleration," Chief
Executive Sidney Toledano told Reuters.
"So I am pretty confident about the future."
Atelier Versace kicked off the shows on Sunday with a luxury
collection inspired by sporty chic.
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Models strutted down the catwalk in figure-hugging designs, namely
gowns, slashed at thigh, draped at the back or cut along the body
and tied together with ropes of Swarovski crystals.
Designer Donatella Versace opened the show, dubbed "Athletic
Couture" in a palette of white -- bomber jackets and trouser or
skirt combinations as well as short dresses -- decorated with
fluorescent yellow or orange straps.
Colors then turned to electric blue, orange and black.
Versace continued the cut and tied together look, described as "as
if exploded, then held together with extravagant knots of Swarovski
ropes", on tuxedos, baring arms and sides.
The looks were accessorized with sandals with straps knotted at the
ankle, some sparkling.
"This is a collection for all women who walk their own path,"
Versace said in a statement.
(Reporting by Hortense de Roffignac in Paris; Writing by
Marie-Louise Gumuchian in London; Editing by Alison Williams)
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