Christian Dior

No one ever said ushering in a new era would be easy. But at Thursday's Spring 2013 Christian Dior show in Paris, Raf Simons made it look nearly effortless. And after 18 months of scandal, drama, and anticipation, that's really no small feat. Just imagine the pressure Simons must have felt.

Not that it showed. Simons is a designer who knows himself and trusts his aesthetic, so this was a collection that felt confident, elegant, and controlled. Blazers, dresses, and even ball gowns came in shapes that were pared-down and wearable, while fabrics like iridescent nylon and tech lace-mesh added just a hint of futurism. But for all his modern minimalism, Simons is also a designer who possesses a remarkable ability for exploring and reworking the past. His understanding of Dior's archives was obvious in July with his initial Couture offering, and, let's face it, it was obvious last season with his breathtaking swan song at Jil Sander, too. "People think Christian Dior was about constriction, and technically, with the New Look's corseting, it was," Simons said backstage. "But in a psychological sense, it was about liberating women, allowing them to be romantic again, and to fantasize about their image." With Simons at the helm, it's safe to say that Dior is well on track to being liberated too.

The new venue Hotel National des Invalides had "Dior" written simply, dramatically across the front as a fashion crowd that included everyone from Kanye to Leelee Sobieski made their way inside for Raf Simons's latest lineup. That in itself is a big way to start a show — the evidence of some pretty high expectations for Simons's Spring debut, which happily lived up to the hype. Raf knows how to excite, but it's not for show either; it's modern and wearable, giving Dior a contemporary edge that hasn't been there for a long time. Hemlines were shorter and dresses were sexier, though the most obvious nods to the future were in Raf's pearlescent, iridescent fabrications that covered tops and microminis. It was an awesome play with proportions and silhouettes that Simons masterfully crafted with reimagined suiting — blazers as dresses, slashed pleats, new iterations of Dior's ladylike jackets. Then, the collection gave way to the real head-turners, minimalist shifts and strapless A-line dresses electrified with a flash of neoprene and a whimsical, pearl-like shimmer. The sheer and lace overlays were both entirely feminine but not girlie or precious; they were cool. Even the eveningwear was cool: uniquely crafted and displays of tulle and embellishment used sparingly, just enough to spark interest on — but not overwhelm — a black cocktail dress. For the finale, we got a little more volume and glamour, but it was all elegant and tempered, giving us the most modern rendition of the ballgown with slim, semisheer tops and full skirts covered in iridescent florals. These may be the pieces the Hollywood set turns to for dressing up, but the collection in its entirety proved Raf is adept at building a collection and a design house capable of far more. The pieces in this lineup could take you well beyond red-carpet appearances and the elite cocktail-party circuit (if, of course, you can afford a piece).

• Trends: Iridescent fabrications, suiting, stripes, sheer and lace overlay, asymmetrical cuts, and peplum.
• Colors: Iridescent pastels, charcoal gray, black, white, a flash of bright citron, orange, and fuchsia.
• Key Piece: The pearlescent dresses and tops were brilliant; we also loved the smart, sexy plays on suiting.
• Accessories: Scarves, pointed-toe pumps, metallic heels, metal cuffs, classic handbags.
• Who Should Wear It: The iridescent violet asymmetrical mini was made for Diane Kruger; attendee Leelee Sobieski should wear the white blazer-style dress.

It's Friday, which means it's time to crown CelebStyle's top star styles of the week. Our standouts this week were Rashida Jones, who worked a bold print Thakoon dress with crystal-coated Valentino sandals; Rachel Weisz, who turned heads in a stunning strapless Christian Dior number with bow-accent Christian Louboutin pumps; Rachel Bilson in her menswear-inspired Malene Birger and Alexander McQueen look with classic feminine flair; and a few more including Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway, and Jessica Hart. From red-carpet stunners to casual Summer style, these six starlets really turned it out. Take a closer look at their chic ensembles, see why each trendsetter was crowned, then re-create their looks for your next outing.

Rachel Weisz took our breath away at The Bourne Legacy premiere in NYC wearing a gorgeous look from Raf Simons's Christian Dior Couture collection. As the second celebrity spotted in the designer's debut line for the fashion house — Marion Cotillard was first spotted donning a printed ladylike look from the line a few weeks ago — Rachel was proof that the right black dress can speak volumes. The actress looked modern, sleek, and ultrasexy in her Christian Dior confection, which she accessorized with a Charlotte Olympia embellished clutch and whimsical bow adorned shoes from Christian Louboutin. See every jaw-dropping angle now.

If you've been looking to invest in a new pair of sunglasses for Summer, look no further than Gwen Stefani who has countless fabulous pairs. The singer is particularly fond of Stella McCartney's new shades, especially the retro-inspired round ones. She has them in blueish gray and black. She also has an affinity for dramatic cat-eye shades, which give her a more roar-worthy vibe. First see all of Gwen's Summer sunglasses, then shop your favorites for yourself!