Givenchy and Chanel Couture Arrive in Paris

Simple yet perfect.

More couture, please.

The Paris couture shows are in full force and I'm here to give you a recap of the highs and lows. Let the fun begin!

Despite Karl Lagerfeld's eccentricities (owning hundreds of iPods, traveling with a special mini pillow), he is undoubtedly a genius. Yesterday, Mr. Lagerfeld debuted his Chanel Spring couture collection in Paris and the show was nothing less than stunning. At first glance, the mostly white (interspersed with black) collection might have seemed overly simplified, but the genius lay in the details. Gorgeous pleating, intricate beading, and lace hand sewn onto delicate wool. The starkness of the design and overwhelming simplicity was made that much more delightful by the handmade paper camellia and floral head wreaths conceived by Kamo, a Japanese hairdresser. This is couture at its finest.

Riccardo Tisci unveiled a vast collection for Givenchy cloaked in mystery and modernism. His expert use of draping created beautiful silhouettes made interesting by the  bondage straps hiding underneath. Soothing colors in slightly fierce shapes (a bit of '80s power dressing) were in abundance, without making the clothes unwearable.

Christian Lacroix went all out (as usual) for his Spring collection. Eye-popping colors and whimsical creations walked down the runway one after another. His busy aesthetic and more is more attitude (not one of my favorites), left little to the imagination. Over the top and crazy? Yes. A bit too much.

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