Valentino Couture Spring 2009: Runway Video!

La Dolce Vita: Valentino For the Ladies Who Lunch
La Pleat: Asymmetrical pleating/fanning on a silk zibeline red coat at Valentino Couture

Below are photos and the runway show for Valentino Haute Couture Spring 2009, which was shown at the grand domed lecture theater in the Sorbonne. In Paris, of course. This was the first Couture design outing for former Valentino Accessories designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli.
Most Ordered Dress: If I was a millionaire, a woman and living in Dubai, I would order this hand-pleated-into-an-oversized-rosette cocktail number

Everyone eagerly awaited to see this new stage of Valentino Couture, especially after the "unceremonious" departure (OK, she got "let go") of designer Alessandra Facchianetti. Facchianetti, if you remember was brought in as the new designer to replace the GOD himself, but after only one Couture Collection--which incidentally got wonderful reviews for being "fresh", "modern" and basically calling it a new stage of the Valentino legacy. Not so much.
Oscar Anyone? A strapless beaded Valentino Couture gown (costing six figures!) that an actress may borrow for free for the Oscars

Her replacements did a beautiful job with their first Haute Couture Collection for the legendary house. Nothing shocking, every suit impeccably made and tailored for all the Valentino Ladies Who Lunch"; Princess Marie Chantal and her European Royal cousins will be happy. So will Empress Farah Dibah of Iran, Queen Sofia of Spain and countless other women of "established" taste and deep Swiss bank accounts. There were also plenty of "Oscar"-worthy gowns we should see February 22nd--if those stylists can get the Valentino PR Office to Fed Ex them next day delivery!
Click BELOW for the entire runway show of Valentino Spring 2009 Haute Couture

Paris Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2009: Dior and Lacroix

Paris is abuzz with the Haute Couture runway shows, and in a time of economic recession, reporters have one question on their minds: Why and how would someone want to spend $30,000 on a jacket or $150,000 on a gown? To that question , John Galliano, of Christian Dior answered THIS on Style.com: "There's a credit crunch, not a creative crunch. Of course, everyone is being more careful with discretionary purchases. I am. But it's our job to make people dream and to provide the value in quality, cut, and imagination" You go Girl!

Chrisitan Dior

For his Dior Spring/Summer Haute Couture, Galliano was inspired by Dutch and Flemish painters; Vermeer, Van Dyck and Monsieur Dior of course. You can see in the re-working of his 1947 New Look Jacket Shapes and his full skirts and ball gowns toward the end of his collection. Dior's women DO NOT SIT for cocktails, they stand and look fabulous holding a Vodka Martini! Forget about sitting for dinner in front of a table--try doing that in one of those Haute Couture fitted dresses with full-circled front "attachments" with eight inch wide Horsehair encircling almost every single hem. And be sure not to miss the Carla Bruni-Sarkozy soundtrack in his runway show (click below for the videos). Bless. John. Galliano. Marvelous!

Christian Lacroix

For Spring '09, Christian Lacroix continued doing what he does best: His masterful and one of a kind creations blending the feminine with the romantic with obvious nods to historical costume references, and deftly mixing 8 different fabrications IN ONE seemingly simple and elegant cocktail number. Perfect for that Dubai debutante in need of a dress for attend just another Friday night party!

Click below for Part I and II of the complete Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2009 videos, as well as an edited video of Christian Lacroix's Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2009 show