Maurizio Galante

The Ministry of Culture and Communication invited Italian designer Maurizio Galante to present the pieces and decorative objects designed ... by himself in the rooms of the Palais Royal for the second season in the Haute Couture calendar. Thrilled Maurizio showcased his pieces which play with stratification, pleats and volume and which are created in beautiful fabrics such as organza and silk. It was one way for the minister, Christine Albanel to emphasise that the values of handcraftsmanship and Haute Couture savoir-faire exist only in Paris.

Gaspard Yurkievich

Gaspard Yurkievich, new artistic director at Rodier, presented a chic and sensual Gaspard Yurkievich men’s collection for summer 2009. ... His suit trousers bring to mind the famous Chanel tweed jackets, whilst his belted trenches are collarless and the shoes two-coloured.

Olga Sorokina

The first Russian Haute Couture fashion house, IRFE, which opened at the beginning of last century, took advantage of ... Paris fashion week to showcase Olga Sorokina who revealed for the occasion during a cocktail at the the Palais de Tokyo, her first collection for this label called “Renaissance” and prepared an exhibition on the artist Alexandre Vassiliev entitled “The Russian emigration and fashion in the 1920’s.” This young Russian woman has initiated the rebirth of this fashion house, which also chose Paris in 1924 to house its first fashion show.

Udo Edling

An intuitive collection for Udo Edling who, as indicated backstage, didn’t want to follow a specific trend but to ... do what he wanted. The fashion show that took place on the final day of the Haute Couture fashion week was inspired by Fahra Palavi, empress of Iran, and by the Persian rose. So we rediscover powdery colours centred around pinks, purples and chocolate brown. There was lots of legerity in the collection and despite the presence of many coats, it is above all a preview of the summer 2009 collection with suits, skirts and trousers teamed with collarless coats, dresses with impeccable finishes including a long, back revealing number which fits very close to the body.

Christian Lacroix

Christian Lacroix has drawn inspiration from his roots: The south, Arles and Spain to come up with his Haute ... Couture winter collection. His praying mantises dressed in black and jet lace made up a sombre wardrobe. The waists are tight and elongated in the form of a point, skirts are ruffled, shoulders squared. The embroidered matador’s cape is worn over a little black dress which is very simple but very beautiful. Do the dresses bouffant sleeves narrowed at the hands and with high waists hide a pregnancy bump? The emotion is there; Christian Lacroix has once more conquered his public and by way of thanks they showered him in carnations.