No one has ever pretended that haute couture bears any relation to what anyone wears in everyday life, but then neither do wedding gowns – which makes the combination of the two particularly successful.
Okay, perhaps only the very bravest would sashay down the aisle in Lacroix’s Venice carnival-inspired crocodile lame gown with pink taffeta petticoat and full-length blue lace gown, as modelled by Alek Wek at this season’s haute couture shows. But overall the bridalwear was a glorious collection of very special gowns for that very special day.
Inspired by ancient China – key looks were entitled “Shanghai Express” and “La Comptesse de Hong Kong” – Jean-Paul Gaultier translated imperial yellow and the traditional lucky red of mainland China nuptials into dramatically layered full-length tunics in ivory silk.
Ungaro’s veiled virgin wafted down the catwalk in a spectacular confection of downy feathers, while at Jean-Louis Scherrer an Eastern European gypsy-inspired bridal gown was given an unintentionally ironic twist by the model carrying a crystal ball down the runway. To give an insight into the joys of marital bliss which lay ahead, perhaps?
Over at Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld has gone gaga over slim-line trousers – presumably a reflection of his own newly svelte silhouette – even going so far as to send his bride out in parchment satin drainpipes under an ivory lace split-skirt. Although the fishtail hems on the trousers of some of his daywear outfits, would have proved a wedding day nightmare – the models kept getting their heels snagged in them – the bridal pants were cut high enough to reveal the designer’s latest fave accessorising, jewelled toenail rings.
Unsurprisingly, the Givenchy bride was effortlessly elegant in a deep-v bodice strapless sheath, long train and voluminous veil, while Yves Saint Laurent swathed his classic, long-sleeved gown in yards of head-to-toe tulle. All in all, a bridal feast to tempt any reluctant bride who hasn’t yet set the date.
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Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
