So Haute Right Now: The Chicest Looks From Couture Week

Every day since last Sunday, we've had to stop once or twice to catch our collective breath. That's largely because so many of the Haute Couture looks that came down the runways in Paris this week were, well, breathtaking.

But more than just being lovely confections festooned with appliqués, lacework, embroidery, and sequins, these looks were special because for the first time in a very long time, they heralded a new direction in couture at large. The people who create couture are very clearly trying to make couture a compelling argument to a different and much younger audience than they've focused on in the past. We saw this everywhere from Giambattista Valli's show, where the skirts were surprisingly short and sassy, all the way to old-guard houses like Chanel and Dior, which both showed sneakers.

Below, a look at the looks we can't get out of our heads from Spring 2014 couture week.

Atelier Versace Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Pascal Le Segretain

Atelier Versace Haute Couture Spring 2014

Atelier Versace Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | MIGUEL MEDINA

Atelier Versace Haute Couture Spring 2014

Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Pascal Le Segretain

Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring 2014

Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Pascal Le Segretain

Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring 2014

Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Pascal Le Segretain

Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring 2014

Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Pascal Le Segretain

Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring 2014

Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2014
IMAXTREE | Pascal Le Segretain

Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2014

Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2014

Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2014

Giorgio Armani Privé Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Giorgio Armani Privé Haute Couture Spring 2014

Giorgio Armani Privé Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Giorgio Armani Privé Haute Couture Spring 2014

Maison Martin Margiela Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Maison Martin Margiela Haute Couture Spring 2014

Maison Martin Margiela Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Maison Martin Margiela Haute Couture Spring 2014

Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring 2014

Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring 2014

Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring 2014

Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Spring 2014

Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Spring 2014

Vionnet Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Catwalking

Vionnet Haute Couture Spring 2014

Vionnet Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Catwalking

Vionnet Haute Couture Spring 2014

Valentino Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Valentino Haute Couture Spring 2014

Valentino Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Catwalking

Valentino Haute Couture Spring 2014

Valentino Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Catwalking

Valentino Haute Couture Spring 2014

Viktor & Rolf Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Viktor & Rolf Haute Couture Spring 2014

Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Spring 2014

Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Spring 2014
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Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Spring 2014

Yiqing Yin Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Kay-Paris Fernandes

Yiqing Yin Haute Couture Spring 2014

Yiqing Yin Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Kay-Paris Fernandes

Yiqing Yin Haute Couture Spring 2014

Yulia Yanina Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Richard Bord

Yulia Yanina Haute Couture Spring 2014

Yulia Yanina Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Richard Bord

Yulia Yanina Haute Couture Spring 2014

Georges Chakra Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Kristy Sparow

Georges Chakra Haute Couture Spring 2014

Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2014
Getty | Pascal Le Segretain

Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2014