Paris Spring-Summer Haute Couture Fashion Week

January 24-28 is the week of Spring-Summer 2010 haute couture fashion shows in Paris.

Let's take a look at some of the most extravagant and/or out-of-this world styles that top fashion designers and runway models presented for the spring-summer season:

Beauty In Horror on 24th

Dutch fashion designer Josephus Thimister opened the fashion week on January 24 with a fashion show that "searched for beauty in horror."

Equestrian Chic on 25th

For Christian Dior, it was a display of whinnying equestrian-themed collection as designer John Galliano presented his collection of nip-waisted jackets and flowing skirts inspired by 19th century horsewomen.

Aurora Borealis and Sweet Pastels on the 26th

Giorgio Armani Privé made a forward-to-the-future statement with a collection that referenced Art Deco but used high-tech futurist fabrics.

The fashion designer's favorite material in the collection was liquid metal while his favorite fabric effect was "aurora borealis," where the northern lights seemed almost impregnated into silk jacquard looks.

"Very futuristic? Maybe, but for today, for 2010," commented Armani when asked about the futurist elements in his Privé haute couture line.

No More Little Black Dress

Chanel made a ground-breaking moment when the fashion house presented a collection without a speck of black. Saying goodbye to its "little black dress," Karl Lagerfeld's haute couture for next summer were inspired by the patisserie counters.

Chanel models walked the runway in hairs elaborately coiffed into heart-shaped Sixties beehives with an adornment of bows and baubles. The models' hands have dinky fingerless silver mittens while their feet were shod in shiny silver ankle boots.

Karl Lagerfeld also decreed for next summer a collection of candy floss pink, apricot, almond green, lilac and primrose - anything but black!

Femme Fatale on the 27th

Jean Paul Gaultier haute couture show resurrected the character of Ava Gardner from the film Avatar to play the femme fatale leading role in the fashion show.

"I saw 'Avatar' and, like everyone, found it extraordinary. And from there, I began thinking of nature and ecology, and the Latin American tropics and from there it was not very far to Mexico," explained Gaultier of his haute couture line.

Gaultier also concluded the haute couture Spring-summer 2010 displays with a piercing mariachi cry.

Union of Exquisite Clothes and Fine Jewellery on the 28th

The Paris haute couture week dedicated the 28th day to the craft of fine jewellery. The haute couture houses welcomed the haute joaillerie makers like Boucheron, uniting two of the city's most renowned and expensive hand-crafts.

Extravagance Amidst The Crisis: Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

There's no economic crisis in Paris...


...I mean in Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. With flowing dramatic gowns, furs and tasseled suits, there's certainly no room for economic crisis.

While sales are falling and the luxury executives have cut costs and jobs, lavishness and exclusiveness are still the dynamic force of the fashion shows. And this extravagance comes with reasons:

“Haute Couture is unique. The skills that go into haute couture are disappearing and it's a privilege to buy these clothes," says a former public relations executive who come to see the Paris Haute Couture shows.

"Sometimes I get surprised, you hear there is a crisis but you still see people shopping... When you want something exclusive, you have to go to haute couture. My daughter is getting married and I want a dress specially made for her - and for myself, and sisters and family," shares an obviously wealthy Jordanian Dior client who attended the event.

"If you react to the crisis, you can't produce high fashion," Italian designer Giorgio Armani tells the media after the show. "High fashion is like watching a beautiful film, it belongs to a different world."

We don't want to argue that. Haute Couture shows exist for luxury, exclusiveness, and extravagance (where dresses can easily cost upward of 30,000 euros or $39,430!). If you do not belong the wealthy and the privileged, then that simply means haute couture shows are not made for you.

But is it true that haute couture shows are not affected by economic crisis?

Spectators have observed from the flamboyant Paris Haute Couture shows that there were fewer models than usual.

Come to think of it, luxurious gowns and dresses may not be affected by global downturn but fashion models are slowly feeling the chill.

From the job that the fashion world have bring them up, models may come falling down like this one below: