Amaya Arzuaga F/W 2011-2012

I was extremely pleased to receive an invite to the Amaya Arzuaga show at the Grand Palais for Paris Fashion Week. I had previously been there only to stand outside and take photos of the fashion elite as they went in for the Chanel show. This magnificent building is a historic building that was built in 1897 and showcases an impressive glass vault.


Once inside, I climbed the huge marble staircase and found my spot among the crowd. The show started with a beautiful beige pantsuit with structured jacket which made the model's legs look like they went on forever.


The show then went on with a collection of pleated and folded dresses in a variety of bright colors. The silhouette created with the folds of the fabric were unique, yet wearable. Geometric dresses that accentuated the hips were a little futuristic, without being over the top.







The collection then switched into long flowing, dresses that trailed along the floor stirring up white dust as the models walked along the runway. Most dresses were black, with one large line of color circling around the dress as a reference back to the geometric feel of the previous dresses. The last piece that was shown was a beautiful long blue dress with pleated fabric to create another unique silhouette in the back of the dress. It was a nice way to end the show, as the audience was looking at the back of the model walking away and was left wanting more.

Manish Arora F/W 2011 - 2012

Today I fell in love with Manish Arora. Held at Garage Turenne, this show was exciting from the moment I stepped inside the venue. Vibrant colors adorned just about every person that came to see this famous designers collection. Looking around the crowd, the excitement of the show was obvious. The staple black outfit that is usually the uniform at fashion shows was traded in for bright, energetic colored attire. When looking through the crowd, I noticed Kayne West sitting opposite me, also in a brightly colored leather jacket. Sitting beside him was the famous fashion icon, Diane Pernet of "A Shaded View on Fashion" website! I was so excited to be at the same show as them!


The show began with Magician Benjamin Dukhan wheeling an empty metal cage into the middle of the catwalk, covering it with a cape and, with a tap of a flaming torch, a model appeared inside. As the models made their way down the runway, I was in awe of the amount of Swarovski crystals that adorned the pieces. Each outfit had an impressive amount of Swarovski crystals, rich embroidery and mirrorwork. Embellishment combinations of lamé fabrics and crazy patchwork prints paired with crystal body armor created an almost magical presence in the clothes themselves.








This stunning floor-length ballgown looked as if it was made out of stiff colored paper and cut like a paper snowflake. The same pattern was then seen coming down the runway, printed on a full body catsuit.



I was also just dying over the shoes and boots that were covered in Swarovski crystals that were just about the most sparkle I have ever seen!



The collection from Arora was overall magical with undertones of stylized interpretations to Indian and Asian cultures. Manish Arora was recently appointed artistic director at Paco Rabanne. Fashion industry leaders are anxious to see what the over-the-top designer has in store for this iconic brand.