Couture week, Paris

'The moment I ran into Christian Louboutin at the Sidaction dinner. He was wearing a pair of his studded sneakers and I was wearing the lace-ups.'
'The moment I ran into Christian Louboutin at the Sidaction dinner. He was wearing a pair of his studded sneakers and I was wearing the lace-ups.'
(Image credit: press)
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A highlight of the international fashion calendar, Paris's Haute Couture week is when the big boys come out to play.

A chance for designers to let their hair down and flex some creative muscle, the week produces results that are often more like works of art than clothes.

This year, we recruited man-in-the-know, Cameron Silver of Decades boutique, LA, to uncover the best of the Paris offerings - from Chanel to Balmain and back again.

Model


(Image credit: press)

Read our Q&A with Cameron Silver

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Christian Dior’s Haute Couture presentation was held within the historic walls of the company’s Avenue Montaigne headquarters.'

(Image credit: Christian Dior)

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Taking inspiration from Monsieur Dior's 1950s couture shows, the presentation was shown throughout the various salons of Dior’s Parisian headquarters.'

(Image credit: Christian Dior)

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'The Dior couture presentation was refreshingly intimate.'

(Image credit: Christian Dior)

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'The models at Dior came complete with dramatic hair and makeup.'

(Image credit: Christian Dior)

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Dior put on an inspiring, vintage-influenced presentation for this year's couture outing.'

(Image credit: Christian Dior)

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Although Dior didn't put on my favourite show of the season, I still managed to take most of my photos here.'

(Image credit: Christian Dior)

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'This show channelled the spirit of Dior's original couture shows, with its retro-inspired aesthetic.'

(Image credit: Christian Dior)

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'The models seemed to relish acting like the vintage models of yesteryear.'

(Image credit: Christian Dior)

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Dior's couture show provided opportunity a-plenty to get up close and personal with the garments.'

(Image credit: Christian Dior)

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.

(Image credit: Christian Dior)

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.

Christian Dior Spring 2010 couture collection.
From left: 'A model at Dior strikes a vintage pose'; 'Communications Director for Boucheron, Masako Kumakura (left) and her son Alex with Gerlinde Hobel'.

(Image credit: Christian Dior)

'A vintage photograph of a model resplendent in Dior, very dramatic.'

'A vintage photograph of a model resplendent in Dior, very dramatic.'

(Image credit: Christian Dior)

'Hortense de Lassée of Balmain, standing in-front of a jacket that had already sold out in my size

From left: 'Hortense de Lassée of Balmain, standing in-front of a jacket that had already sold out in my size'; 'Ana Pettus flew in from Dallas for a mere 24 hours in Paris, just to attend the Balmain party - that’s what you call Balmainia.'

(Image credit: press)

Armani Privé Spring 2010 couture collection.

Armani Privé Spring 2010 couture collection.
From left: 'I arrived just behind Tina Turner at the Armani Privé show'; 'My friends Becca Cason Thrash (left) and Tatiana Sorokko at Armani Privé'.

(Image credit: Armani Privé)

'I love photographing the photographers - they are always the most interesting people in the audience of a fashion show.'

'I love photographing the photographers - they are always the most interesting people in the audience of a fashion show.'

(Image credit: press)

Chanel Spring 2010 couture collection. 'Chanel's couture collection took the season as its cue, with a host of dresses in feminine shades.'

Chanel Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Chanel's couture collection took the season as its cue, with a host of dresses in feminine shades.'

(Image credit: Chanel)

Chanel Spring 2010 couture collection.

Chanel Spring 2010 couture collection.
'Models at the Chanel show also came complete with Bride of Frankenstein-esque streaks in their hair.'

(Image credit: Chanel)

'The springtime-come-hammer horror combo ensured that the Chanel Spring 2010 couture collection was well received.'

'The springtime-come-hammer horror combo ensured that the Chanel Spring 2010 couture collection was well received.'

(Image credit: Chanel)

Chanel Spring 2010 couture collection. From left: 'Chanel continues to impress with the most beautiful couture presentations, and there are no bad seats'; 'Lagerfeld takes a bow.'

Chanel Spring 2010 couture collection.
From left: 'Chanel continues to impress with the most beautiful couture presentations, and there are no bad seats'; 'Lagerfeld takes a bow.'

(Image credit: Chanel)

Roger Vivier Spring 2010 couture luncheon.

Roger Vivier Spring 2010 couture luncheon.
'A young Russian fashion editor in a red overcoat from Chanel's Paris-Moscou collection; 'Lauren Santo Domingo and her fantastic legs modelled a pair of Vivier shoes during their traditional couture luncheon.'

(Image credit: Roger Vivier)

Givenchy Spring 2010 couture collection.

Givenchy Spring 2010 couture collection.
From left: 'I met this newlywed couple last season, where the bride chose Givenchy couture for her wedding dress. We reconnected at the Givenchy show this season - and I thought the clothes were equally exciting'; 'The setting for Givenchy's Spring 2010 couture collection at Paris's Le Westin was spectacular.'

(Image credit: Roger Vivier)

Givenchy Spring 2010 couture collection

From left: Givenchy Spring 2010 couture collection - 'Shown in the same setting as YSL's once renowned couture offerings, the Givenchy Couture show came complete with feathers, frills and plenty of colour'; 'This was an interesting statue I saw just off the Champs-Elysées, which reminded me of my empty stomach throughout the whole of couture week – the fashionista’s diet!'

(Image credit: Givenchy)

Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection.

Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection.
From left: 'I loved the iconic sailor tops the young assistants at the Gaultier show wore, in order to identify themselves'; 'Dita Von Teese crosses paths with a fashion reveller at the Gaultier couture Show.'

(Image credit: Jean Paul Gaultier)

Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection.

Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection.
'To my mind, Gaultier makes some of the most wearable couture around.'

(Image credit: Jean Paul Gaultier)

Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection.

Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection.
From left: 'Gaultier's couture show was inspired by the Latin vibe of Mexico'; 'French-American singer Arielle Dombasle closed the Gaultier show in a show-stopping illusion gown.'

(Image credit: Jean Paul Gaultier)

Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection.

Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection.
'That said, you wouldn't recognise the wearability in my photographs - I only shot Gaultier's most theatrical looks.'

(Image credit: Jean Paul Gaultier)

Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection

From left: Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 couture collection - 'Arielle Dombasle struts her stuff on the Gaultier Runway'; Valentino Spring 2010 Couture Collection - 'Many of the models at the Valentino couture show wore blindfolds - try walking in couture and heels down a runway, wearing an organza blindfold.'

(Image credit: Jean Paul Gaultier)

'A multi-coloured array of my invitations to the Paris couture shows.'

'A multi-coloured array of my invitations to the Paris couture shows.'

(Image credit: press)

'Swarovski held a party at Lagerfeld’s Left Bank palazzo, featuring a heady selection of dresses all encrusted with Swarovski crystals.'

'Swarovski held a party at Lagerfeld’s Left Bank palazzo, featuring a heady selection of dresses all encrusted with Swarovski crystals.'

(Image credit: Swarovski)

'Couture and Swarovski, a match made in heaven - you can’t have one without the other.'

'Couture and Swarovski, a match made in heaven - you can’t have one without the other.'

(Image credit: Swarovski)

ADDRESS

Decades
8214 1/2 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles
CA 90046

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Jack Moss
Fashion Features Editor

Jack Moss is the Fashion Features Editor at Wallpaper*, joining the team in 2022. Having previously been the digital features editor at AnOther and digital editor at 10 and 10 Men magazines, he has also contributed to titles including i-D, Dazed, 10 Magazine, Mr Porter’s The Journal and more, while also featuring in Dazed: 32 Years Confused: The Covers, published by Rizzoli. He is particularly interested in the moments when fashion intersects with other creative disciplines – notably art and design – as well as championing a new generation of international talent and reporting from international fashion weeks. Across his career, he has interviewed the fashion industry’s leading figures, including Rick Owens, Pieter Mulier, Jonathan Anderson, Grace Wales Bonner, Christian Lacroix, Kate Moss and Manolo Blahnik.

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