Runway Report: Ralph & Russo Spring 2015 Couture

Ralph & Russo is one of the favorites. They know how to mesh pretty and high drama together and get results that end up with major red carpet ready looks. I think that is part of the reason that they get so much recognition on the red carpet. Last year celebs wore Ralph & Russo Couture 22 times, each a look pulled from the houses runways. Dita von Teese and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini (Cheryl Cole) took in the collection from the front row. They took in a bevy of vintage inspired ensembles covered in 3-D floral embellishments, sculpted gowns, and goddess inspired silhouettes. What ended up showing was a collection, that despite being embellishment heavy, looked at ease and elegant.

The runway left so many red carpet moments to come. We tend to see these looks at international events like the Goya Awards and Cannes Film Festival, but I am hoping that more of the American market starlets start to snatch up looks from this collection. I can defiantely see Angelina Jolie wearing a gown or two from this collection for the Academy Awards, even if she takes it and makes it black, and maybe Dita will snatch up a look for the Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party.

Runway Report: Georges Hobeika Spring 2015 Couture

Georges Hobeika always shows pretty dresses and slowly but surely the celeb set has been embracing the brand on the red carpet. I am excited to see who will grab this collection off the runway. Colors of reflected light were the inspiration behind the Georges Hobieka Spring 2015 Couture collection. Georges did not push any boundaries in his shapes but give pretty gown after pretty gown. I think we will definitely see a bunch of these looks worn on all kinds of celebrities at a bevy of events. Each look was just as soft and delicate as the look before it. I am praying that we see Eva Longoria work her diva magic on this collection during the Cannes Film Festival.

Runway Report: Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2015 Couture

I have to say that while I loved the Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2015 Couture collection, that I expected much much more. When Gaultier halted the production of his Ready to Wear and Menswear lines to focus on his couture collections I was expecting to go back to the days of the early to mid 2000s when we saw the Gaultier signature infused into different styles each season. What was presented was more of the same that has been presented in the past 5 years. While he may be showing exactly what the clients want there has to be a way for him to return to the insanely OTT designs that jutted JPG into stardom. What we ended up seeing was a 1980s collection that I am sure that will sell well but I can not see the stars running to grab these looks up for the red carpet.

Runway Report: Elie Saab Spring 2015 Couture

Always a highlight of Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week is Elie Saab. For Spring 2015 Couture, the king of the red carpet looked back through his childhood in the 60's and 70's in his home of Beirut, Lebanon. The collection entitled "Beirut, Chasing a Dream" was created to reflect Mr Saab's journey. "I'm always transported back to the city where I was born, somewhere between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains." The oak and olive trees that that made up the set of the show. "Women in ankle length dresses, trapeze dresses, high waist skirts, embroidered and sheer tops wading through downtown." This was the Beirut that Saab remembers and I think he translated perfectly to the runway in his collection that featured many of the same detailing and styles, while not looking like costumes. I could see Jerry Hall and Diana Ross wearing this collection in the 1970's just as much as I can see any modern woman wearing these vintage inspired creations. What I really loved about this collection was the exuberant use of feathers. Feathers are one of my absolute favorite type of embellishments, and if this collection is any indication we will be seeing them show up on the red carpets quite a bit over the next few months!

Spanish supermodel Nieves Alvarez, burlesque beauty Dita von Teese, and Princess Clotilde Courau were all seated front row, taking in this absolutely amazing collection. They were no doubt picking out red carpet ensembles for the bevy of events that they attend over the year. As with most Elie Saab collections, all of my readers will be seeing it a lot when it comes to my red carpet wish lists. This collection spans ages and decades and I really cant wait to see the red carpet looks that will undoubtedly come from this collection. Mr Saab said of the collection, "I want to pay homage to the people of this city who never stopped dreaming, who never stopped believing. With this collection, I too have wished to celebrate Beirut. I hope it brings you its loving spirit, its elegance, its douceur de vivre." I believe that Mr Saab attained his goal that he set for this collection and then some.

2014 Berlin International Film Festival Wish List

Runway Report: Bouchra Jarrar Spring 2015 Couture

Bouchra Jarrar always shows an intimate collection during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week and Spring 2015 was no different. Showing only 25 looks, Bouchara seemed to step away slightly from her edgy looks in favor of some very feminine and elegant soft styles. In the midst of awards season I always remember how underrated Bouchara Jarrar is. We have only seen the brand on the back of a celebrity a total of three times, once on Jennifer Aniston and twice on Marion Cotillard. I would love to see young Hollywood embrace Bouchara, as the mix of edgy and feminine is exactly what most of young Hollywood adores so much.

I would love to see the likes of Emma Stone, Lily Collins, Jennifer Lawrence, Emilia Clarke, Marion Cotillard, Cate Blanchett, Emma Watson, or Kate Hudson. These are the women who can do cool red carpet dressing like no other and that is exactly what the Bouchra Jarrar lady is, cool. The soft gowns, the edgy leather, the lady like houndstooth infused with sexy zippers, and crisp menswear inspired white shirts all just worked so well together. Like I have said for years, I really hope that we see an emergence of Bouchra on the red carpet because I love her styles and think there could be many major red carpet moments from these looks.

Runway Report: Armani Prive Spring 2015 Couture

I think I literally died watching the images from the Armani Prive Spring 2015 Couture collection come in last week. The Italian designer looked to bamboo as the inspiration for this collection, which marked the houses 10th anniversary. This spring will also mark 40 years since, the now 80 year old, Giorgio Armani launched his brand. What was refreshing about this Armani collection was that amongst over the top theatrics, at Chanel and Dior, the collection shown was just pretty. Sometimes we need a break from the OTT of couture and just enjoy pretty things. The big suit trend that Armani is trying to start is jackets paired with chic culottes, while I love the ones shown in this collection I don't see these coming around (Dior tried it a few seasons ago and it didn't work). Japanese insperation was also evident in the obi style belts that adorned most of the looks in the collection.

The evening wear just left me breathless. Each look that came down the runway was just more perfect than the one before and I am praying for many red carpet moments to come. Robin Wright, Kristin Scott Thomas, Juliette Binoche, and Paz Vega all sat front row to take int he presentation of this breathtaking collection. Aside from seeing Cate Blanchett wear one of the gowns from this collection at the Oscars later this month, I am hoping to see this collection on the backs of celebrities for Oscar parties, movie premieres, galas, the Met Ball, and during the Cannes Film Festival.