The Best Of The Paris Fall 2014 Couture Collections

Photo: Jacques Brinon/AP Photo

How do you make haute couture relevant?

At Dior, Raf Simons traveled through decades — centuries even — to communicate his vision of couture. There in the Marie Antoinette-like pannier dresses was his take on this highest form of dressing. He took the exaggerated silhouettes and made them modern by cutting the hemlines, adding pockets and stripping off the heavy elements, showing pannier skirts with the ease of tank dresses. He also showed a glamorous take on astronaut suits with scattered embroidery work. There were coats too with Edwardian influence but done in a long, lean shape which made them appropriate for dressing for now. The success of this Dior couture collection is that it takes couture elements and makes it work for everyday. Isn't that the true meaning of luxury?

Karl Lagerfeld was inspired by Le Corbursier for his Chanel show and in keeping with his reference point, the clothes he sent down his sparse, bright white runway were clean and almost devoid of embellishment, resulting in a fresh collection from the house.

But the best collection of the season would have to be that of Valentino. The designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli were inspired by the pre-Raphaelites which they interpreted with toga dressing but done in a pure, clean and raw way. There were several goddess dresses in singular swathes of fabric draped and spun around with effortless grace. They were so sophisticated in their simplicity. A testament to the highly creative minds of the designers of the house.

Click on the slideshow to see the clothes from the Paris Fall 2014 Couture season.