Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2012.

Day 2 in Paris. Never mind that I overslept and missed the Chanel Haute Couture show that took place earlier before I barely made it to the Stephane Rolland show in flats by Pretty Ballerinas and black jeans with seconds to spare to take my place at the front row. Jeans? Flats? A major no no for any Haute Couture client! Don’t hold it against me, I could not afford to miss yet another show. Stephane Rolland did not disappoint. It was worth me rushing over there to witness the show for the first time ever. I receive invitations every season to attend the show but for some reason something always prevented me from making it. Today, I was determined not to miss it even if I had to show up in my pajamas.

Alas, the show was breathtaking and should I say, very futuristic with sharp use of color contrast, color blocking, metal applications and asymmetrical lines. The muse of the collection was none other than Yasmin Le Bon who braved the red dramatic dress down the long runway guarded by two dark suited men to help her when she needed to turn and pose for the cameras. I still can’t get the lime green dress with flowing cape out of my mind with its matching lime green shoes! (Size 10 please!) That is an entrance making frock! The shoes of course caught my attention. Some had gold heels, red heels with color contrast to set off the dresses. This would be my first Stephane Rolland show and I was beyond impressed.

Preview more images and watch the video footage from the show below. For more on the label visit Stephane Rolland official website.

Written by TINU exclusively for Shoeholics Club/Shoeholics Magazine.

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JANUARY 23, 2012 Christian Dior Haute Couture: An X-ray of Dior savoir faire defines the Spring-Summer 2012 Haute Couture collection.

I am no stranger to the world of Haute Couture. Once upon a time, I was one of the youngest and possibly the only woman of color who frequented the shows as a client. However, for the first time in about 12 years since attending the prestigious haute couture shows by Christian Dior in Paris, I had a chance to see it through 2 sets of eyes: As a client/friend of most of the staff members & executives of the house and as a professional from the press angle armed with my beastly camera to capture the moment in time for our members/readers worldwide. The house of Dior in Paris to me is like a second home. The staff members are ultra friendly and each time they welcome me back like a family member returning home after a long journey. I don’t think I feel the same way anywhere else in the world when compared to other fashion houses I have patronized over the years.

Perched in my usual front row seat to take in the show, I observed that not only were the dresses and shoes wearable literally off the runway but also ultra feminine and chic! I wanted to buy just about every pair of shoes that walked by me! They look comfortable and well matched to each and every piece of clothing on the models. Most of the shoes had chiffon type mesh that showed of the toes in a delicate and feminine way through the material. Some of the heels were clear resin, not too skinny and not too thick. The shoes were just right with the perfect amount of heel height. The dresses remained true Dior classic playing off the delicate form of the female silhouette –with a modern touch.

The show took place at the grand salon of the former home of Christian Dior. Like in those pioneering days of mid 1940s-1960s (most of us not yet around to have witnessed the glamourous era in person but have read about in fashion historical archives), the models walked past the guests seated in the salon allowing for a better view of the details of the shoes and dresses. I love the almost personal connection with the collection being so upclose. A very intimate setting that in my opinion I wish could return to fashion and become the norm again.

We just might see some of these looks at the upcoming Oscar’s red carpet in February. The show was definitely a winner at the helm of designer Bill Gayten! The art of being ultra feminine and delicate is back in fashion!

“Elegance must be the right combination of distinction, naturalness, care and simplicity,” -Monsieur Christian Dior.

About the collection: Jupons are finished with precision as the semi-sheer layers reveal the exactitude and construction behind each creation.

Preview more images and watch the video footage from the show below. For more on the label visit Christian Dior Haute Couture official website.