Spring 2012 couture

>> It doesn't get much better than this dreamy Vogue editorial featuring Kate Moss in the very best of the season's haute couture. Styled by Grace Coddington and photographed by Tim Walker at the Ritz Paris, these pictures are just plain gorgeous.

This Summer, the Ritz will close its doors for an unprecedented two-year renovation. In honor of the hotel's storied fashion history (Coco Chanel lived there, after all), Walker photographed Moss in a bevy of beautiful couture dresses by Alexander McQueen, Dior, and Giambattista Valli, among others. Moss looks so at home in all of the pictures — and that might be because she's spent a lot of time at the Ritz.

"When I was with Johnny Depp, he always stayed there. I had an apartment in Paris at the time, but he said, 'No, we're staying at the Ritz,' so he came by and swept me up to the Ritz — he didn't want to slum it in my apartment!"

And if you have the option to stay in such a beautiful place, why wouldn't you? Click through to see a few pictures from Moss's beautiful spread.

Photos: Courtesy of Vogue

>> Valentino designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli went soft and lovely for Spring 2012, tapping the romance of the Age of Enlightenment and the innocence of Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon for a couture collection rife with delicateness — or as they put it, "deep lightness." For day, there were softly swishing knee-length dresses with ruffled necks and sheer sleeves; for evening, full-length strapless or long-sleeved gowns in heavy silk and taffeta — some embellished with crystals and pearls, and others printed with antique-looking florals and toile.

>> "It's a very sparkly collection, which, in a way, is very couture," Riccardo Tisci said of the 10 dresses he presented for Spring 2012 Givenchy couture. Sparkly, yes, but there was a dark romance at play as well, one that no doubt came from Tisci's main inspirations: the 1927 film Metropolis and the 1924 Russian film Aelita: Queen of Mars. See the entire collection here, which — as is the recent Givenchy tradition — was photographed portrait-style by Willy Vanderperre.
Photos courtesy of Givenchy

>> It's all happening. The couture shows are here — and with them comes a fresh batch of street style to admire. Among the super-chic in attendance this season? Elettra Wiedemann, Elizabeth Olsen, and a leather jacket-clad Vanessa Paradis (left) — who turned up to Chanel solo but remained vague about the rumors regarding her split with Johnny Depp. Click through to see the best looks captured in and around the shows, with more to come as the week goes on.

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.

>> "I think Amy Winehouse was truly a fashion icon," Jean Paul Gaultier said, describing the inspiration for his Spring 2012 couture collection. As tribute, the designer sent out ensembles styled to the hilt in Winehouse signatures: messy beehive hairdos, winged black eyeliner, and sky-high shoes. The looks — named after lyrics from the late singer's songs — were sexy, eclectic, and classic Gaultier. There were curve-hugging skirts, hourglass suits, slouchy pants, and lots of clashing, riotous color. Also on offer: lace trenches and sculptural, expertly constructed corsets.

>> Metamorphosis and "the woman who is at first calm and easy and then is drawn out of her own skin" were the themes behind Giorgio Armani's Spring 2012 couture outing. Armani also tapped inspiration from reptiles — and, in particular, their shimmering, textural skins, which he rendered in nearly every shade of green. For day, the reptilian theme was present on sharp-shouldered blazers in croc or snakeskin, iridescent draped-front skirts, and slickly tailored pants. For evening, there were mermaid dresses in glistening sequins, scale-printed silk ballgowns, and swirling, second-skin sheaths. With a front row crowd of red-carpet hopefuls — including Jessica Chastain, who learned of her Oscar nod via phone just before the show began — it's safe to say we may be seeing a lot more of these looks very, very soon.

Cameron Diaz brought out another glamorous look for the Valentino Couture Fashion Week festivities this afternoon. The actress has been popping up for runway presentations since the festivities got under way on Monday. She sat front row at Versace with Diane Kruger and posed with Bar Refaeli at Dior, but it was her stop by Armani yesterday that brought a fun surprise. Cameron and Jessica Chastain were seated together when Jessica received a call about her Oscar nomination for The Help, and the crowd responded with a standing ovation. Cameron took a break from the action just yesterday for a meeting at Givenchy's Paris offices.