Dior & other designers debut Spring/Summer fashions in Paris

By: Leila Toussi - MSTv Fashion Correspondent
1/21- 2013

With winter blues harassing the majority of the country, the new fashion line-up showing at the Paris Haute Couture event embodies a warming trend. 

Winter brings expectations of menswear, heavy flannel-based, presentation shows.  But, the 2013 couture collections are a reminder of what we really are looking for to speed up the warmer weather.

Hitting the runway at a breakneck pace, pastel colors returned to fore. Cocktail dresses and pencil skirts shock the senses with sometimes extreme flashes of color.  With other times, color was overshadowed by design and subtle additions to the design flow.  

Artistic director Raf Simons, turned this vastly varied style production into controlled brilliance.  Pieces like the occasional strapless ball gown seemed a little dress-makerly rather than the peak of couture.  Others like a pink taffeta pencil skirt with a lime green toss at the hem, juxtaposed against a black peplumed sheath top and Wedgwood, sleeveless cape let, showed a designer inspired use of a complex color palette within a mind, as well as of the clothes themselves.

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But, the important issue is that the varied uses and color and contrast were working - and well.  As expected from Dior, pieces ranging from  bar jackets, tangerine silk cigarette pants, satin cocktail dresses and unique concepts applied to hems and bodices of coats and dresses and stunning cape-backed and puffball dresses, hand painted with flowers, were show stoppers.

These show-stoppers, combined with the elegant metallic stiletto court shoes, the occasional pair of neon tights and all those sequined pouts, suggest that Simons is getting to grips with the Dior credo: "spectacle, with plenty of commercial bestsellers."

Backstage, Simons simply stated, "I wanted to do a self-explanatory collection..."  To this front, several front row fixtures, celebrities and members of the press literally swarmed around Simons and the designer himself to much acclaim and praise.  On the most positive of notes, this year's spectacle was another rousing success.

But as usual, one has to wonder if these fashions will ever hit the street and actually be worn by the real public.  Perhaps "Alien" movie series star Sigourney Weaver said it best in her quote the press. "I loved how Raf took those little vests and put them back to front.",she said.   "What he does is graceful. The shapes are beautiful. But would I wear it? You never know, but it's always good to see great theatre"

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Enjoy a brief look at the pieces that brought the audience at the Paris Haute Couture show to a standing ovation.  Images by Getty.