Haute Couture Week: Zuhair Murad

The softly spoken but hugely talented Zuhair Murad continues to be a hit on red carpets around the world. Miranda Kerr, Jennifer Lopez, Marion Cotillard and Sofia Vergara are just some of the stars who have stepped out wearing his elegant creations over the past few months.

Murad unveiled his latest collection to rapturous applause on the last day of Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2013 in Paris in January. The ‘Golden Age’ theme drew inspiration from the 17^th century Roman Baroque style, celebrating goddess-like capes, embroidery and detail.

Murad said it took about six months to put together the latest collection from concept sketches through to selecting fabrics, design and creation. “Although it’s difficult to choose a favourite from this collection, it would have to be the feathered white-gold cape and dress. A lot of work went into that piece and the rooster feathers were individually hand-painted,” he said.

Intricate tattoo-like embroidery, shells, sequins, baguette gems and pearls also featured on cascades of chiffon and tulle dresses of glacier blue, pale green and powdery salmon. It was a visual feast for the eyes, but with understated elegance and sensuality. “I’m very happy with the haute couture show and now I’m preparing for the next ready-to-wear women’s collection. There’s a lot of other projects ahead, but I’m really looking forward to the rest of the year,” said the designer, who splits his time between Beirut and Paris.

Check out the video from the tail end of the show:

Haute Couture Week: Christophe Josse

Christophe Josse's latest collection was like a couture whisper that lingered in the air. Josse echoed the purity of silhouettes in his Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2013 show. The collection exuded elegance and sophistication with fabric contrasts, veined effects, geometric lines and intertwined embroideries.

Check out the video from the tail end of the show:

And here's some photos:

Haute Couture Week: Adeline Andre

Adeline Andre is a well respected French fashion designer, who once studied art under Salvador Dali. Since forming her own fashion house in 1981, Adeline's beautiful designs have caught the attention of women world-wide. Her latest collection from Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2013 showcased a range of flattering, fluid dresses in cashmere, georgette, satin, crepe and chiffon.

Check out the short video:

And here's some photos...

Haute Couture Week: Maurizio Galante

Maurizio Galante is a highly regarded Italian/French couturier, who studied architecture before following the path of fashion. His personal approach fuses artisan techniques with industrial technology to process materials and bring them to life. Galante's collection shown during Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2013 blended an exotic oriental theme of Asian influences along with traditional European tailoring. Chiffon, silk, organza, crepe and rhodoide were just some of the fabrics used in a variety of colours, making way for an exciting spring/summer season ahead.

Here's a short video taken during the tail end of the show...

And here's some photos...

Men's Fashion Week: Saint Laurent

The fashion house of Saint Laurent delved into 'California grunge' style for their fall/winter showing at Men's Fashion Week 2013-14. Leather biker jackets, ripped skinny jeans, flannel check shirts, frayed cuffs, chunky scarves and distressed detail all featured heavily. There was also 80s inspired jewellery, tuxedo jackets and some sparkling embellishments to jazz up the collection, which was unveiled at Grand Palais, Paris.

Here's a short snippet from the runway show...

And here's some photos...

Men's Fashion Week: Paul Smith

British fashion icon Paul Smith put on a fabulous fall/winter show at Men's Fashion Week in Paris. Staged at the magnificent Centre Pompidou, Smith incorporated colourful knits, texture, detail, prints and patterns into his fashionable line-up in preparation for the cooler months ahead. You can read my review here on Fashion Journal.

Here is a quick video from a portion of the show. Apologies for the heads in front, but they do belong to Paul Smith's family so I couldn't exactly ask them to move. ; )

And here's some photos...

Chatting to Paul Smith backstage after the show

Men's Fashion Week: Kolor

Japanese label Kolor was just one of the exhibitors at Men's Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013-14, which was held in Paris from January 16-20. Designer Junichi Abe injected some modern funk into the staple autumn colour palate with pops of green, pink, blue and orange.

Here are some photos from the Kolor runway show held at Palais de Tokyo. And, if you want to read more about it, just click here for my review on Fashion Journal.