Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week was nothing short of a midsummer night's dream

Where else can one delight in the romance of life, but in Paris? Of course, if you’re a global fashion label it would have to be in the Grand Palais or the gardens of Musée Rodin.

The haute couture fashion week for spring/summer 2017 has been nothing short of a midsummer night’s dream this week, with gossamer-like gowns and feathery details flitting about elaborate runway sets.

Let’s start with Chanel that presented sparkle and plumes in all the sophistication by creative designer Karl Lagerfeld. Sure, pieces like the tweed skirt suits seemed dated. However, the show packed in a silvery punch with the sequins dresses that were accentuated with pink and white feather ruffles on the shoulders, cuffs and hems. Glamour quotient was high and delightfully different — true to what is expected from such a reputed brand.

The sentiment was reflected across the board, making one wonder whether all the design heads secretly decided the trends together. Even if they did, no one is complaining.

The new artistic director of Christian Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri, brought out woodland fairies onto a fake garden runway at the Rodin museum (desi fashionistas can recall Aneeth Arora’s show for spring/summer 2015 and multiply it by a few hundred times for best results).

Layered tulle dresses in nude, soft pink and gentle lilac were a beautiful reference to Titania’s gown from the Shakespearean play, and pretty appliqué flowers were an Impressionist artist’s delight. Feathers and headgears added the necessary drama to the spritely vibe.

Meanwhile, British label Ralph & Russo presented delicate maxi dresses with 3-D tulle and organza flowers, thigh-high slits and ruffle collars that were finer versions of what Delhi-girls Gauri & Nainika had showcased for their spring/summer 2016 collection.

And while the inspiration for Elie Saab was Ancient Egypt, the hand-embroidered dresses were a fanciful expression of youthful love. At Giambattista Valli’s show, garden delights were abundant with floral and botanical embroidery on silk dresses. Again feather hemlines were visible as well as ruffled necks and pleated tulle skirts, and princesses — both real and imaginary — will have much to obsess over.

As for those with an artistic eye, Maison Margiela outdid itself under the creative direction of John Galliano. How the designer crafted the portrait of a woman with fabric onto a white coat dress is testament to his genius and imagination. The zeitgeist was also captured with a dress that featured the abstracted face of a woman barfing the Snapchat rainbow filter in fabric.

Schiaparelli took an artistic approach as well, with abstract stripes of colour running across ensembles along with symbols of the house like padlocks and the sun. Bright red lips and hearts were key for the assertive dresser.

Seriously, the red carpets are going to be one magical fairytale this spring. What more can one ask for.

(Courtesy of Mail Today.)

Also read: Those disrupting Indian fashion are its new stars