Really French Dressing

Sonia Rykiel is the quintessential French designer, knowing full well the heart, mind, and desires of French women. Simple, feminine, soft clothes are always on this runway, and Sonia remains one of our perennial favorites.

– Christine Suppes

From The Paris Showrooms

It is always a pleasure to go to the showrooms when I am in Paris for a fashion week. This season I loved the work of Roberta Furlanetto, who worked in the couture atelier of Christian Lacroix for twenty years. She is now based in Milan. Her coats are really something special, a bit of haute couture at a ready to wear price.

Roberta Furlanetto
rfurlanetto@leevsrl.com

Belgian Cathy Pill showed during couture week in January. Her coats and dresses are modern and well thought-out. The feeling is young and urban but without geographic borders.

Cathy Pill
www.cathypill.com

Anne Valerie Hash has been showing her collections during couture week for several years. She takes her concepts literally—a baby sleeve attached to a floaty blouse. She appeals to arty, young fashion bohemians, and the top models want to do her show because she has a real currency now in the fashion world.

www.a-v-h.com

- Christine Suppes

Happy 60th Birthday, Dior

John Galliano upped the ante early this Fashion Week in anticipation of the 60th anniversary of the house of Dior. Glamour unseen and certainly unparalleled on the RTW Paris runways since the days of Yves Saint Laurent’s Rive Gauche, feminine silhouettes, clear beautiful colors and materials like fur, ostrich, pythons and more fur in ultra refined daywear and sophisticated evening wear recalled the Hollywood sirens of years past. Galliano’s new direction is stunning and fabulous in every way….except one. These clothes are going to cost a bloody fortune. This was the most couture ready-to-wear we have seen in a couple of decades, and our eyes could not get enough — even with the 60 pieces (60 pieces for 60 years, get it?). Bravo, Galliano!

– Christine Suppes

Gallant Galliano

John Galliano as Lieutenant B. F. Pinkerton in the service of beauties everywhere, following Dior’s never to be forgotten spring 2007 Haute Couture collection inspired by Madame Butterfly.

– Christine Suppes

Karl's Couture Moment

Decked out in red, white and blue, Karl Lagerfeld had a sporty yet couture moment at the Grand Palais following his well received Spring 2007 show. Couture audience heavy hitters took a second row seat to the models at the finale. Karl is so democratic.

– Christine Suppes