chanel
Chanel’s fall couture show was a story of ethereal white and gilded gold, so it only makes sense that spring 2015 would be the opposite. Full of bold color while set in an almost futuristic garden, Karl Lagerfeld’s designs featured a palette of pinks, oranges, reds, electric blue and pollen yellow splashes over curved silhouettes and rounded shoulders made of mini floral bouquets. Evening wear places a focus on tulle, sequined skirts and pleated blouses. The finale featured model Molly Bair as the show’s “bride”, who wore a pastel-hued skirt full of intricate blooms and ruffles.
elie saab
For his spring-summer 2015 haute couture collection, Lesbanese designer Elie Saab found himself inspired by his childhood in Beirut. “The ethereal fabric of this collection embodies my childhood’s summer breeze. Just like the soft green of my blooming springs, the pale blue of the misty horizon, the yellow of the mimosas, the brown of the damp soil,” writes Saab in the show notes. Drawing influence from the 60s and 70s, the designer shared his vision of the era with curved silhouettes, silk-printed tulips and a dreamy color palette of powder pink, blue and metallic tones. Dresses are short and flouncy or sheer and long with belted waists.
valentino
Valentino designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli looked to love as the main theme of their spring-summer 2015 haute couture collection. Poetry, the Russian countryside and Dantesque images influenced their reinterpretation of amorous feelings. Elegant gowns with sheer detail–which included one with writing strewn across evoked a romantic feeling. There were also more heavily embroidered pieces including capes and long coats. A color palette of natural hues paired with deep scarlet hues, navy and tawny golds took over the Valentino woman’s wardrobe.
giambattista valli
For his spring-summer 2015 haute couture collection, Giambattista Valli found himself inspired by the Met’s “Impossible Conservations” project with Miuccia Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli. Valli decided to create a “conversation” between Coco Chanel and Janis Joplin for his eighth couture outing. The women’s two very different styles were bridged in the layering of flouncy skirts over pant looks. Chanel’s influence can be seen in the menswear tailoring while Japlin’s style shines through with more relaxed silhouettes. For the finale, Valli sent out a pink tulle gown full of unapologetic ruffles.
dior
Once again looking to the past for inspiration, Raf Simons skipped the 18th century this time for something more contemporary with Dior’s spring-summer 2015 haute couture collection. Shades of the 50s, 60s and 70s shone through with psychedelic prints, vintage-style embellishments and plastic raincoats. There were even sequined vertical stripes as well as tiered skirts with horizontal ones. Pulling the eclectic looks together, the Dior woman wore patent leather boots with see-through heels ranging from ankle to thigh-length.