Christian Dior Fall 2015 Haute Couture via style.com

Ah, couture. The crème de la crème of the fashion world. Twice a year, the most esteemed fashion houses and the most influential names in the business convene in Paris for days of stunning, intricate, and beautiful clothing. Couture is the celebration of fashion in its purest form, essentially free from the need to be commercially successful. It allows the fashion designer to explore complicated themes and create exquisite, one-of-a-kind pieces. Couture celebrates craftsmanship, originality, and creativity. Indeed, couture is the highest of art forms in the world of fashion.

Let's discuss the Fall 2015 shows, then, shall we?

Armani Privé

 Chanel

As usual, the set at the Grand Palais was incredibly creative and cheeky; for Fall 2015 couture, head designer Karl Lagerfeld had models walk through a Monte Carlo-style casino where Chanel muses like Julianne Moore, Kristen Stewart, and Lily Rose Depp sat at poker tables, gambling away while identical, robotic models passed by. Robotic being the key word here, because many of the early looks in the show were 3D-printed and created with computer technology. With handmade detail being so integral to the institute of couture, I'm not quite sure if 3D-printing technology has a place in high fashion, but you've got to give it to Lagerfeld for always being innovative and ready to try the newest thing.

Stylistically, the daytime looks at the Chanel show just did not do it for me. Their odd stiffness is better explained when you consider the use of 3D-printing, but to be honest I often feel this way with Chanel shows as of late; the first half of the collection is repetitive at best, always the same tweed skirt sets and 1920s shapes that have been Chanel staples since the era of Mademoiselle Coco herself. The creative process might have been an innovative gamble (if we are to go with the casino theme) but the tweed suit is hardly a risk.

But the second half. That's where the magic is with this collection. From frilly cocktail dresses to decadent gowns, these are the clothes that are going to sell with the couture crowd.

Also, can we just talk about the la mariée suit worn by it-model Kendall Jenner? That is how you take elements of Chanel tradition and have some fun and innovation with it. Here's hoping some celebrity or high-fashion favorite is getting married soon and wanting to wear this, because this wedding suit needs a moment.

Christian Dior

Raf Simons is one of the—if not the—best designers in the business. He outdoes himself with each collection he delivers for Christian Dior, and to think I have gone from being skeptical of his appointment to absolutely ecstatic each time he does something new is crazy. After delivering a knockout resort collection in Cannes, Simons has done it again with the Fall 2015 couture collection. He has an obviously minimalist approach to haute couture, which at first I was nervous about (how can one be both minimalist and opulent and luxe enough for couture?) but I have come to appreciate how Simons has time and time again managed to make wearable, commercial, but no-less extravagant clothes for his couture collections at Dior. I think it's easy to confuse high fashion with high concept, and it's nice to see that there's a way to present straightforward, beautiful clothes that are going to impress.

Part 60s hippie, part modern medieval princess, and with a touch of New Look tradition thrown in, this collection had a lot going on, and yet it all felt incredibly cohesive. As usual, Simons has taken up Christian Dior's interest in flowers and has used fauna as the starting point for many of his collections, but here it takes a less literal approach than it has in the past. There are floral motifs here and there, and the set definitely had references to flowers, greenhouses, and naturalist painting, but it's not the petal-like creations that Simons started out with.

If people were still comparing Simons' vision of Dior to Galliano's, they shouldn't be doing that anymore. This is the Christian Dior of Raf Simons, and it is incredibly successful. In fact, it's kind of crazy to think back on the days of over-excess to the point of tackiness. Now, Dior couture is just as luxurious, but you could actually see well-dressed women wear these pieces out and about. And even with couture, the pinnacle of high fashion, you should still want women to wear your clothes in real life. Simons has made that a reality.

Elie Saab

Elie Saab shows may not be cutting edge or innovative in the same way that other couture shows tend to be, but Saab has made a career out of the pretty, sparkling gowns that grace the runway season after season. One comes to expect plenty of lace, embroidery, and embellishment, and yet, each season one marvels at the fun twists in Saab's designs and the stunning color palettes. We may know what to expect out of an Elie Saab show, but we love it each and every time.

For fall, Saab went a vaguely Gothic route, with a moody color palette of glittering emeralds and rich burgundies, medieval dress styles, and golden crowns atop the head of every model. He also added fur trims to the sleeves of dresses for added autumnal flare. This collection will appeal to the large list of royals who flock to Saab's creations as well as Hollywood princesses. The burgundy caped-jumpsuit, for example, better make an appearance on the red carpet (perhaps the Golden Globes?) or I will be incredibly disappointed. Another beautiful turn from the man who loves to create beautiful dresses.

(all images via style.com)

What was your favorite collection? And be sure to check back for Part II tomorrow!

Wearing Camilla and Marc | Christian Dior | Marchesa Notte | Prada | Black Dress | Elie Saab Couture

Elie Saab | Chanel | Pamella Roland | Maticevski | Elie Saab

I'm sure it can be challenging to make a name for yourself as the offspring of a world-famous musician, but Lily Collins has done so with ease! To kick off the annual It Girls of the Year list, we look to the glamourous young actress who really stepped it up a notch style-wise this year.

A fan of Elie Saab and Chanel, Collins oscillates between breathtaking ballgowns and modern minimalist chic. She stunned in a purple watercolor Elie Saab gown at the Rome Film Festival—perhaps one of the best celebrity looks of the whole year! But she looks just as fabulous rocking a structured crop top or a new-look style gown in a vibrant orange.

Collins has also had one heck of a beauty year. Her of-the-moment bob is both mature and youthful, and adds a modern glamour to all of her looks, whether she is dazzling on the red carpet or just going grocery shopping. She's also a fan of a bold lipstick, so what's not to like?

What's up next for Lily Collins in 2015? She's been promoting her most recent film Love, Rosie internationally, but other than that she has a role in the upcoming, yet-to-be-named Warren Beatty film, set to be released next year.

Who do you think will round out the rest of the list?

Zuhair Murad | Vionnet | Elie Saab | Versace | Alexis Mabille

All the best from the fall 2012 couture shows

Couture is always exciting. Couture challenges designers to push the artistic boundaries of fashion to the edge. Everything is fantastical, dreamlike, surreal. Couture focuses on ancient techniques and futuristic technologies alike. Couture is magical.

You've already heard my thoughts on the Christian Dior show, but here are my opinions on the rest of Fall 2012 Couture.