A highlight of the international fashion calendar, Paris's Haute Couture week is when the big boys come out to play.
A chance for designers to let their hair down and flex some creative muscle, the week produces results that are often more like works of art than clothes.
This year, we recruited man-in-the-know, Cameron Silver of Decades boutique, LA, to uncover the best of the Paris offerings - from Chanel to Balmain and back again.
Read our Q&A with Cameron Silver
Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Christian Dior’s Haute Couture presentation was held within the historic walls of the company’s Avenue Montaigne headquarters.'
Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Taking inspiration from Monsieur Dior's 1950s couture shows, the presentation was shown throughout the various salons of Dior’s Parisian headquarters.'
Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'The Dior couture presentation was refreshingly intimate.'
Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'The models at Dior came complete with dramatic hair and makeup.'
Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Dior put on an inspiring, vintage-influenced presentation for this year's couture outing.'
Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Although Dior didn't put on my favourite show of the season, I still managed to take most of my photos here.'
Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'This show channelled the spirit of Dior's original couture shows, with its retro-inspired aesthetic.'
Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'The models seemed to relish acting like the vintage models of yesteryear.'
Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Dior's couture show provided opportunity a-plenty to get up close and personal with the garments.'
Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
From left: 'A model at Dior strikes a vintage pose'; 'Communications Director for Boucheron, Masako Kumakura (left) and her son Alex with Gerlinde Hobel'.
'A vintage photograph of a model resplendent in Dior, very dramatic.'
From left: 'Hortense de Lassée of Balmain, standing in-front of a jacket that had already sold out in my size'; 'Ana Pettus flew in from Dallas for a mere 24 hours in Paris, just to attend the Balmain party - that’s what you call Balmainia.'
Armani Privé Spring 2010 couture collection.
From left: 'I arrived just behind Tina Turner at the Armani Privé show'; 'My friends Becca Cason Thrash (left) and Tatiana Sorokko at Armani Privé'.
'I love photographing the photographers - they are always the most interesting people in the audience of a fashion show.'
Chanel Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Chanel's couture collection took the season as its cue, with a host of dresses in feminine shades.'
Chanel Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Models at the Chanel show also came complete with Bride of Frankenstein-esque streaks in their hair.'
'The springtime-come-hammer horror combo ensured that the Chanel Spring 2010 couture collection was well received.'
Chanel Spring 2010 couture collection.
From left: 'Chanel continues to impress with the most beautiful couture presentations, and there are no bad seats'; 'Lagerfeld takes a bow.'
Roger Vivier Spring 2010 couture luncheon.
'A young Russian fashion editor in a red overcoat from Chanel's Paris-Moscou collection; 'Lauren Santo Domingo and her fantastic legs modelled a pair of Vivier shoes during their traditional couture luncheon.'
Givenchy Spring 2010 couture collection.
From left: 'I met this newlywed couple last season, where the bride chose Givenchy couture for her wedding dress. We reconnected at the Givenchy show this season - and I thought the clothes were equally exciting'; 'The setting for Givenchy's Spring 2010 couture collection at Paris's Le Westin was spectacular.'
From left: Givenchy Spring 2010 couture collection - 'Shown in the same setting as YSL's once renowned couture offerings, the Givenchy Couture show came complete with feathers, frills and plenty of colour'; 'This was an interesting statue I saw just off the Champs-Elysées, which reminded me of my empty stomach throughout the whole of couture week – the fashionista’s diet!'
Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection.
From left: 'I loved the iconic sailor tops the young assistants at the Gaultier show wore, in order to identify themselves'; 'Dita Von Teese crosses paths with a fashion reveller at the Gaultier couture Show.'
Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection.
'To my mind, Gaultier makes some of the most wearable couture around.'
Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection.
From left: 'Gaultier's couture show was inspired by the Latin vibe of Mexico'; 'French-American singer Arielle Dombasle closed the Gaultier show in a show-stopping illusion gown.'
Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection.
'That said, you wouldn't recognise the wearability in my photographs - I only shot Gaultier's most theatrical looks.'
From left: Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection - 'Arielle Dombasle struts her stuff on the Gaultier Runway'; Valentino Spring 2010 Couture Collection - 'Many of the models at the Valentino couture show wore blindfolds - try walking in couture and heels down a runway, wearing an organza blindfold.'
'A multi-coloured array of my invitations to the Paris couture shows.'
'Swarovski held a party at Lagerfeld’s Left Bank palazzo, featuring a heady selection of dresses all encrusted with Swarovski crystals.'
'Couture and Swarovski, a match made in heaven - you can’t have one without the other.'
ADDRESS
Decades
8214 1/2 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles
CA 90046
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