Couture Fashion Week

Couture Fashion Week is about pulling out all of the over-the-top, decadent, head-turning stops. Rife with delicate floral applique, jaw-dropping embellishment, and saturated color, designers' Spring '13 offerings did just that. The trend report points toward all things floral and feminine, as exemplified by Giambattista Valli's decadent array of beading and embellishment, Chanel's secret garden theme highlighting beautiful floral appliqués, and Raf Simons's botanical dream for Christian Dior. With swaths of silk, tulle, and guipure lace floating down the runway, we can't help but fall hopelessly in love with the likes of Valentino, Elie Saab, and a gilded Zuhair Murad collection. Though, as the lineups from Atelier Verace, Armani Privé, and Jean Paul Gaultier prove, there's sleeker, sexier fare in store here as well. Click through to see the most gorgeous, must-see moments from Couture.

— Additional reporting by Hannah Weil

It's rare to come across a red carpet these days that doesn't play host to (at least) one stunning Elie Saab gown. The Lebanese designer has, in effect, become a go-to source for glamorous premiere dresses and award-show fare, and we have a hunch it has everything to do with his penchant for dense embroidery, princess-gown silhouettes, and decadent embellishing. Saab's Couture Spring '13 collection debuted in Paris today, and with it came 48 ethereal confections practically begging to be worn to some fancy gala. We can easily imagine Keira Knightley slipping into one of the icy-hued, crystalline-embroidered tulle gowns, or perhaps Gwyneth Paltrow taking on one of the crisp white body-skimming gowns as an homage to last year's standout Tom Ford number at the Oscars. We also spotted a funkier printed sheath in a '50s-inspired shape that has Kerry Washington written all over it. Luckily, we're smack dab in the middle of award season, and with the SAG Awards this Sunday, we're hoping to see any one of these 11 gowns sooner rather than later. Click on for our Elie Saab Couture picks and who we'd like to see wearing them on a red carpet near you.

Without a doubt, Paris Couture Fashion Week supplied a steady stream of enviable fashionista sightings, all worth a second glance. Among the mix: Diane Kruger, Hailee Steinfeld, Jessica Alba, and Carine Roitfeld turned out some of the sleekest front-row ensembles, despite wintry conditions — care of Chanel, Valentino, Christian Dior, Elie Saab, and more. If the chic arrivals didn't provide all the styling fodder you need for your next cocktail party, then look to last night's glamorous Sidaction Gala for another round of inspiration. The fete marked the unofficial end of Couture Week but clearly did not mark the end of the A-list style parade. Leelee Sobieski stole our hearts in a bold floral-printed Christian Dior Spring '13 number, while Miroslava Duma continued her cool-girl reign in a masculine Giorgio Armani getup. Click through for all of the Sidaction Gala outfits, then catch up on all the best front-row moments from Paris Couture Fashion Week.

— Additional reporting by Marisa Tom

In a whirlwind week of Haute Couture, it's not an easy task to pick the crème de la crème (after all, isn't it all the best of the best?), but we did. After taking in the confections from Couture Week's heavy-hitters, we made it a mission to pick the most gorgeous gowns — the ones that totally took our breath away. From the lacy gowns at Valentino, finished in fairy-tale-like capes, to the all-out siren strapless numbers at Versace, there's nothing short of stunning in this curated collection of our favorites. Giambattista Valli said it with flowers, Givenchy with regal-inspired luxe — in any case, these truly are the most glamorous of them all.

Riccardo Tisci tapped into Game of Thrones decadence with his Fall collection. Setting the stage in an intimate appointment-only landscape, Tisci took his viewers into a luxurious, gypsy-inspired world surrounded by the trees. We can't help but feel transported to Sherwood Forest as the regal-like collection unfolded in rich red beading, embroidery, and laser-cut leather and fur. He tapped into luxury, but like all things Givenchy, the richness was never overworked or too precious. With easy silhouettes, you have the sense that you could carry off the most intricately beaded and embellished pieces as easily as Joan Smalls, who wears her glittering and fringed black and gold ombre top with a perfect nonchalance. That's the cool-girl quality Tisci never forgets; here it was the opulence of his details countered in effortless shapes, like a simple column gown finished with a fur caplet or an intricate, perfectly draped leather and fringe cape.

• Trends: Fur, capes, thigh-high slits, leather, fringe, geometric embellishment.
• Colors: Rich red, black, buttery brown, creamy beige, flecks of gold.
• Key piece: The red beaded, fringe, and fur-trimmed capes and coats in black and brown.
• Accessories: Visor-like shades, open-toe boots (and a German Shepherd).
• Who would wear it: The ultraluxe gypsy; Carine Roitfeld was made to wear the fringed leather capes.

In Paris, celebs and fashion's top style setters are taking in the latest collections at Couture Fashion Week. Half the fun is the celebrity style sitting front row as collections like Valentino, Versace, and Armani draw out fashion's most stylish fans. We spotted Nicky Hilton, Clemence Poesy, and Jessica Stam all showing off their respective looks from Valentino just before the Couture show, but they weren't the only ones — inside is a who's who of celebrity trendsetters, fashion insiders, and designers from Zoe Saldana to Diane Kruger (and everyone in between).

It was all about drama on top of drama at Jean Paul Gaultier's Fall couture show held on Rue Saint-Martin today. Inspired by George Sand, a famous female French writer known for wearing men's clothing and smoking in public in the 1800s, Jean Paul Gaultier's collection was brazenly designed, filled with corsets, top hats, embellished jumpsuits, and pretty much anything else one would hope for in a decidedly theatrical collection. Colored fur pieces like a pastel tricolored jacket showed off even more opulence, while metallic patchwork gave the line a more modern feel. Also of note, the designer featured both female and male models in the show, perhaps to show the unisex appeal, albeit for a more daring personality. Read more details below.

• Trends: Sheer detailing, colored fur, fringe, patchwork, jumpsuits.
• Colors: Red, light blue, gold, black, silver, purple, chartreuse.
• Key piece: The simple yet seductive black silk gown worn by Constance Jablonski.
• Accessories: Choker necklaces, netted headpieces, top hats, printed tights, chandelier earrings, platform pumps.
• Who would wear it: Girls looking for a subversive look; Lady Gaga, Rihanna.

Armani offered up dramatic menswear-inspired separates as a mainstay for his Fall 2012 couture collection, and yes, there's wearability tied to most everything here. Armani began with fluid sets of jackets and pants in easy proportion. The wide-cut, boxy jackets and fluid, wide-leg, and velvet-finished pants don't short on volume, but there's an element of practicality in it all, most notably from the simple flats and the black velvet berets paired with every outfit. If you were dressing in Haute Couture every day, then this might just be the most accessible, especially in a palette that flows so effortlessly from easygoing daytime to high-impact, midnight hues. Lilacs and soft blues on Armani's separates and sheaths quickly gave way to something darker and sequined in the eveningwear that followed suit. Gowns were dressed up in rich navy blues and blacks, a flash of Swarovski sequins, or a pretty organza that answered the call of after-hours glamour.

• Trends: Sequins, veils, suiting, sheer, peplum, boxy jackets, wide-leg trousers, and velvet fabrications
• Colors: Soft blue, pink, and lilac; black, white, navy, and royal blue
• Key piece: The strapless pink sequined gown
• Accessories: Embellished veils, fascinators, black berets, sleek clutches, T-strap pumps
• Who would wear it: Hollywood A-listers with a sleeker sensibility; Cate Blanchett

Although Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week is over, there are some beauty looks you won't want to miss from the French catwalks. While the shows herald high-on-style looks for Fall, some can be converted for your remaining summertime adventures. From the lime green eyeliner at Dior to the braided bun at Elie Saab, peep the best hair and makeup styles from one of the year's biggest fashion fetes. Be forewarned, though: some of these styles are only for the bold.