Final Graduate students of Accademia Costume & Moda, Rome at the Alta Roma Alta Moda Haute Couture Fashion Week 2015

Alta Roma Alta Moda, the yearly couture week started today (Jan, 30th, 2015) in Rome, and will continue till Feb, 2nd, 2015. The prestigious fashion week was conceptualised by the Rome based Haute Couture fashion agency and revolves around the mission statement: “research and promotion of emerging couture designers.” Hence, it is no surprise that the main focus of this fashion week is to create a platform to launch young and emerging talents. Emerging couture designers get a wonderful opportunity to showcase their work alongside the veteran designers. It is like a dream come true for any emerging designer!

Stéphane Rolland Spring Summer Haute Couture 2015: Breathtakingly Fresh and Light:Paris Haute Couture

For the designer the collection was about adding a bit of positivity to a world that isn’t so nice anymore. The magical lightness of the collection had a very soothing and serene feeling of the world that we want to live in. Freshness was the underlying essence of the presentation. Be it the world that we desire for or for that matter the couture that one desire to wear. Old school Haute Couture craftsmanship merged with innovative techniques where 3D embroideries were dramatically exaggerated. Sequins, gold & silver powder, were mixed to resins and subtly merged with black, white and terracotta brown.

Victor & Rolf Spring 2015 Couture:Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

Viktor & Rolf took inspiration from Van Gogh’s artwork and translated them into architectural Haute couture pieces. A- Line baby doll dresses with voluminous petticoats came in with large 3D floral motifs and appliquéd petals. The giant straw hats, vibrant colours and prints created a unique drama that played with the surrealistic essence of the collection. The sight of fabric flowers wafting out from the garments and extending upwards touching the enormous head-gears was a fashion theatrics in itself. Almost all the pieces had black ribbons interwoven on the white hems, and block prints using the batik technique were widely used throughout the collection. The collection was no less than a work of art – an installation project in itself.

Valentino Spring Summer 2015 Couture : "Love Conquers all" : Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

“Amor Vincit Omnia”! Yes, love conquers all. Love was in the air at the Valentino Spring Summer 2015 Haute Couture show. Romantic and sophisticated, the collection took its inspiration from the artwork of Russian painter Marc Chagall and romanticism of Shakespeare’s poetry. In spite of all the intricate couture details and exquisite embroidery, the collection had an effortless easy vibe to it.

Armani Privé Spring Summer 2015 : Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

Giorgio Armani’s oriental inspired Spring Summer Haute Couture collection had a Zen like serene elegance. Strong yet delicate - most of the pieces were fluid yet gracefully structured. Samurai like outfits and column dresses were accessorised with an obi belt tied at the waist. The oriental bamboo motif was the highlight of the collection. Short ultra feminine jackets and boxy tops were embroidered with sequins and beads. Pleats and silk drapes along with a dash of subtle yet generous shimmer accentuated the Oriental feel of the collection.

Chanel goes bloom for Spring Summer 2015 Couture:Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

Haute Couture gardening was at its best at the Chanel Spring Summer 2015 couture show yesterday. After last year’s controversial mock feminist rights protest, which angered many women for faux-demonstration of feminism on the runway, this year Karl Lagerfeld opted for more traditional and youthful floral. Out worldly dramatic and innovative, the runway sets of Chanel shows are always a highlight – thanks to the showmanship of Mr. Lagerfeld. This year too, he framed his collection with a beautiful set. The designer created an animated tropical garden under the magnificent glass roof of the Grand Palais, complete with orchid and bluebells and palm trees created out of water coloured papers that opened one by one exotically into blooms of pink, red and yellow.

Ulyana Sergeenko Spring Summer 2015:Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

Regal yet modern, the architectural collection was inspired by the artistic treasure of Georgia and Armenia. High on Haute Couture details, the collection offered embroidered and hand stitched pieces in exaggerated volumes and artistic embellishment. There was a delicate poetry in the collection, as if inspired by the Romanticism of Mikhail Lermontov’s poems.

Elsa Schiaparelli Spring Summer 2015: A process of revival: Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

The iconic French fashion house is in the process of reviving the legacy of Elsa Schiaparelli, and this was clearly visible in this Spring Summer 2015 Haute Couture collection. During this process of rebirth the Parisian house has faced a multitude of challenges, including getting a permanent creative director. Marco Zanini, who was appointed as the creative director and presented two collections for the brand, didn’t last for too long and moved out almost three months earlier. This left the house to work with the existing creative team, who presented the latest couture collection. It was not an exceptional collection, but not unnoticeable either. The collection was contemporary and indicates a new direction for the house.

Christian Dior Spring 2015 Couture :Paris Haute Couture Week

Futuristic yet retro, Raf Simons, created the collection by romancing the past and bringing in the new. With a hint of 50s ladylike glamour, 60s mod and 70s liberation, the collection offered a subtle futuristic edge. Vibrant spring colours married the elegance of Dior’s architectural full skirted skirts and 60’s A Line dresses. Graphic psychedelic knit bodysuits and interplay of the ribbon strip pleats on the skirts along with transparent plastic rain coats, printed with floral busy branches worn over shifts were bold and beautiful. Layer and layer of Guipure lace and sequins created that graceful romantic moment.

Atelier Versace Spring 2015 Couture: Fit & Curvaceous: Paris Haute Couture Week

Donatella Versace very well knows the USP of her brand –ultra sensuous body fitted silhouette. This is what she does the best. So, it comes as no surprise to see her playing with the beauty of feminine curve in this collection. Modern and sexy, the dresses were cut with surgical precision, revealing ample amount of skin. In a colour palette of royal blue, red, white and black the form fitted curvaceous collection offered embroidered mini dresses, evening pieces and flared jumpsuits, minus any straight lines.

Emma Stone In Christian Dior Couture - "Impeccable & Sleek": SAG Awards 2015

Emma Stone was an epitome of sophistication in this beautiful Christian Dior Couture tuxedo inspired gown at the SAG Awards 2015. I love every bit of this look. Sexy yet ultra classy! Extra points to Emma for being different and taking a risk. And the best part, it was not just another boring sheer gown. For a change and after a long time, I am in love with this particular sheer look. Impeccable and sleek!

Jennifer Aniston ‘AGAIN’ shows her ‘Body Chain’ in a deep cleavage John Galliano gown: SAG Awards 2015

Jennifer Aniston attended the SAG Awards 2015 wearing a daring plunging vintage John Galliano gown at the SAG Awards 2015. More than the gown, what really stood out is her body chain. This is the second time, this year; Jen has bared her cleavage in a dangling chain on the red carpet. If you remember she wore a similar body chain at the Critics Choice Awards 2015 few weeks back. Is this going to be a new trend? Do you like?

Lupita Nyongo’ in Elie Saab Pre Fall 2015 gown : SAG Awards 2015

She did it again! Lupita Nyongo’ was absolutely flawless and was a vision in this Elie Saab Pre-Fall 2015 graphic striped floral motif gown at the 2015 SAG Awards. And, not everyone could have carried this gown with so much of perfection as Lupita did. The plunging neckline and the fuller skirt of the gown created a striking drama on the red carpet. Good going Ms. Nyongo’ !

Pat McGrath’s magical makeup for Givenchy Fall Winter 2015 :Paris Menswear Fashion Week

I am still in awe of the looks created by makeup artist Pat McGrath for Ricardo Tisci’s Givenchy Fall winter 2015 runway show during yesterday’s Paris Menswear Fashion Week .There was something very dark yet beautiful about the looks. Models wore different looks- from lips clamped by metal stitch and dramatic smoky eyes topped with green glitter and Bordeaux red lip colour to spooky Zombi-esque face makeup; it was a spectacle and one of the best that we have seen in runway makeup in the recent times. But the breathtaking look of the show was the bedazzled face mask created by McGrath using sequins, coins and seashells suspended on strings. It took 8 hours for her to create this piece of beauty.

Style spotting: Michelle Obama lands in India wearing Indian-American designer Bibhu Mohapatra–Indo-American Style Diplomacy

First Lady and style icon, Michelle Obama, who is in India on a 3 day visit with her husband President Barack Obama landed in New Delhi today. And, as expected, as soon as she landed in India, Mrs. Obama raised the style quotient by wearing an Indian-American designer. Michelle looked absolutely fabulous and sharp wearing a geometric-floral motif knee length dress designed by Bibhu Mohapatra for his Spring 2015 collection. She completed the look with a complementing cape and a pair of black pump. This is not the first time that Michelle has worn Bibhu. She has worn another outfit by the designer while appearing on Jay Leno’s TV show. Mr. Mohapatra, who is based in New York, was born and raised in Rourkela in Odisha.