Couture Fashion Week

Elie Saab's Fall 2012 Couture collection was nothing short of a red carpet affair. By “infusing the collection with imperial splendor,” Elie's Constantinople era-inspired collection was filled to the brim with a decadent beading and lace awash in pretty hues of pale pink, gold, nude, and even a few pops of teal. The show kicked off with a line of dramatic, shimmery black gowns (led by model-of-the-moment Karlie Kloss) followed by a pretty regalia of softer hues, some of which highlighted cocktail appropriate knee-length dresses. Fancier eveningwear showed intricate sheer lace detailing, high slits, and luxurious embroidery. We already predict a bevy of A-listers anxiously waiting for their next red carpet premiere just for a piece of this glamorous collection.

• Trends: Lace, sheer detailing, and high slits
• Colors: Black, nude, pink, light blue, teal, and gold
• Key piece: The gold lace column gown worn by Karlie Kloss hits all notes of perfection.
• Accessories: Skinny belts, black, gold, and light blue sandals
• Who would wear it: Red carpet stunners like Zoe Saldana, Emma Stone, and Gwyneth Paltrow

Dark-hued luxury in rich brocade and midnight-navy silks dominated Valentino's Couture collection for Fall 2012. Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli revisited the ethereal silhouettes and deep palette present in Fall's ready-to-wear, but explored new shapes in evening wear too, this time topping their gowns with capes and raising the hemlines and necklines of slim-cut brocade sheaths. We get both a sense of the regal — most obviously from the capes sweeping the runway — but also in the intricacy of embellishments and the sheer weight of the brocade fabrics. Necklines cited more sophistication than sensuality, though there's certainly a fair share of skin to be seen in the sheer insets and cutouts of the more fluid gowns. The designers married their influences, French painter Gustave Moreau mixed in with the elegance of a modern woman, calling to mind stylish ladies like front-row attendee Olivia Palermo or Charlize Theron. Like their own appeal, the beauty of this collection was all about nuances that came together to frame a larger, richer, big picture.

• Trends: Brocade, sheer, florals, capes, embellishments
• Colors: Navy, red, black, soft yellow, and pink
• Key piece: The brocade pastel yellow sheath and the sheer and lace-inset navy gown with cape
• Accessories: Lace-up heels, ballet-slipper inspired pumps
• Who would wear it: Red-carpet beauties like Charlize Theron

On their way to Valentino's Couture show, Olivia Palermo and beau Johannes Huebl set off a photo frenzy in their wake — and rightfully so. The fashion darlings proved once again that their couple style is next-level chic. Johannes showed off his own style prowess in a dapper blazer and blue suede loafers alongside a glowing Olivia, who may have stolen the show in a petal pink lace Valentino dress. As always, Olivia furthered interest with her accessory selection, adding a touch of glamour with sparkly ankle-strap Giuseppe Zanotti heels and her cat-eye shades; we are in Paris after all. See Olivia stun in pink when you step inside.

Karl Lagerfeld showed Chanel's Fall 2012 Couture collection in Paris's Grand Palais to a star-studded crowd that included Diane Kruger, Clémence Poésy, and Sofia Coppola. Themed "new vintage," the collection highlighted a chic array of the brand's signature tweed cut in true ladylike fashion — skirt sets, dresses paired with cropped jackets, and slouched trouser suits inspired by Coco Chanel all emoted an understated elegance, while slouched beanies and metallic tights injected a dose of modernity. But that's not to say the drama was missing, as eveningwear highlighted the designer's decadent side. Lagerfeld's intricately beaded separates, silver lurex gowns, and silk dresses were the perfect mix of vintage modern glamour. However, the pièce de résistance was the closing look worn by Lindsey Wixson: a white tulle and pearl embellished gown, which reportedly took over 3,000 hours to make. More details from the collection below.

• Trends: Ladylike tweed, metallics, loose trousers, beading.
• Colors: Gray, pink, purple, black, silver, blush.
• Key Piece: The slouched trouser sets and jaw-dropping tulle and pearl embellished white gown.
• Accessories: Metal cap-toe pumps, metallic leather fingerless gloves, metal belts, slouched beanies, shimmer tights.
• Who Would Wear It: Girls who crave chic looks with a twist like front-row attendees Diane Kruger and Clémence Poésy.

Raf Simons set the scene for his Couture collection with wall-to-wall flowers in a private home on the Avenue d’Iena in Paris — lovely as they were, they still played second fiddle to the craftsmanship of his Dior debut. In perfect balance, Raf celebrated both the fashion legacy at Dior, while staking out a claim for his own. He married the history of the house's '40s aesthetic with re-creations of Dior's archival patterns sewn into the backs of his ornately embroidered dresses, but the skillful tailoring told a much more contemporary story. Slim trousers, topped with fit-and-flare dresses and peplum trim were part of Raf's own modern narrative, as were the full, voluminous gowns topped with sheer, t-shirt like tops. Right down to the pointed-toe pumps, red lips, and pearls, Raf honed in on our favorite parts of ladylike dressing without building caricatures, thanks to proportions, functionality in evening wear, and trends that play to today's woman and her point of view. For Raf, vintage Dior was the jumping off point — but it wasn't the full story.

• Trends: Menswear, peplum, cinched waists, outerwear as evening wear, dresses over pants
• Colors: White, navy, black, petal pink; a splash of canary yellow, red, and fuchsia
• Key piece: Ladylike coats, cinched at the waist and worn as dresses; fit-and-flare dresses over slim-cut pants
• Accessories: Classic, pointed-toe pumps, wide metallic belts, pearl-encrusted chokers and cuffs; ladylike gloves
• Who would wear it: Demure, classic beauties like Natalie Portman and Michelle Williams; we'd love to see Diane Kruger in the full-skirted, blue-floral print gown.

With front row attendees like Jessica Alba, Elizabeth Banks, and Lea Michele, it's safe to say the line to nab a piece of Donatella Versace's Fall '12 Couture collection for the next red carpet appearance will be a lengthy affair. The show — held at the prestigious Ritz Paris where her brother Gianni Versace showed his couture shows for many years before his death — turned up the volume on what the Italian fashion house does best: jaw-dropping minidresses and gowns. The collection was filled with Versace's signature glamour and glitz as a rainbow of pastel hued looks made their way down the runway. If the sheer corset dresses and scarf print minis weren't enough, Donatella's penchant for over-the-top decadence was proven in her flourish of studded wide belts, strappy high heel pumps, statement cocktail rings. Look closely and you can see all intricate fabric techniques she utilized like weaving patent leather together into a leather jacket, creating delicate sheer cutouts, and our favorite, a glittery mesh detail we're dying to get our hands on. More details from the collection below, then check out the complete collection.

• Trends: High slits, sheer cutouts, metallics
• Colors: Yellow, green, pink, purple, gold, light blue.
• Key piece: The diaphanous printed gowns with high slits are perfect for a red carpet event.
• Accessories: Strappy pumps, wide embellished belts, and statement rings
• Who would wear it: Girls who want to turn heads like Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Selena Gomez.

We've officially wrapped up Paris Couture Fashion Week, and there's certainly a lot to take in. From Chanel's quite literal flight of fancy to Jean Paul Gaultier's runway tribute to Amy Winehouse, we were pretty delighted with the high-end offerings. While some pieces will undoubtedly hit the red carpet on Hollywood's A-list, others are probably best suited for Lady Gaga or Nicki Minaj — but either way, there was surely enough gorgeousness to put us in a bona fide couture coma. We've rounded up 35 of the best looks from the past week — click through to see them all now.

Givenchy's Spring 2012 presentation just validated our longtime desire to play basketball in a couture gown — Riccardo Tisci brought total glamour to the hardwood, showing beautiful '20s and '30s-inspired looks reminiscent of classic science fiction films. It took 350 hours to complete the silk jersey gowns, which were embroidered with scales of crocodile skin, curve-contouring zippers, and opaque beads — making for extraordinarily one-of-a-kind pieces that are sure to bring the ultimate drama to any red carpet. The feminine, slightly edgy collection was simply breathtaking, and we can't wait to see which starlet will sport the pieces this season.

• Trends: Crystals, sequins, and lots of intricate beaded detailing; crocodile scales embroidered on silk tulle.
• Colors: White, black, and mocha.
• Key Look: The long-sleeved, full-length crocodile scale gown.
• Accessories: Embellished nose rings and oversize, shoulder-sweeping earrings.
• Who Would Wear It: Risk-taking red-carpet stars like Tilda Swinton, Evan Rachel Wood, and Cate Blanchett.

Gowns swathed in toile-inspired prints and soft, wallpaper florals hinted at Jane Austin era romance at Valentino. There's a distinctly feminine feel, and a hint of both Parisian decadence and Victorian propriety in the collars, bows, and capes that topped delicate silver-embellished gowns and sheer-topped confections. Everything feels emphatically pretty — the softness, the bow and floral-appliqué adornments; even the slipper-style loafers are done up in the same florals and details.

• Trends: Sheer, antique and toile-inspired florals, Victorian collars.
• Colors: White, cream, and soft pink, blue, and green.
• Key Look: The soft floral-print and embellished strapless gown; the creamy white shift.
• Accessories: Embellished and printed loafers.
• Who Would Wear It: Claire Danes, Kate Bosworth; the ultra-femme red-carpet beauties.

That's a wrap on Couture Fashion Week. We've seen everything from neoprene brights and peplum at Atelier Versace to sheer cutouts and sequins at Chanel to beautiful pastel embellishments at Elie Saab — all of which, we predict, we'll be seeing on an A-list red carpet very soon. While the couture collections were nothing short of gorgeous, it's time to take one last look at the fresh front row style. At yesterday's Valentino show, Cameron Diaz worked it in a lacy white Valentino minidress and nude pointy-toe pumps, while Dita Von Teese vamped it up at Jean-Paul Gaultier in all black. Keep clicking to get a glimpse of these stylish stars at the Haute Couture shows.