Runway Report: Paris Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011 Fashion Week--Stephane Rolland

Folded, Ribboned, Draped...

Dip-Dyed Canary: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

Stephane Rolland showed his Fall/Winter 2011/2012 Haute Couture Collection in Paris and as usual it was a Masterful display of the drapery, folded and structured modern elegance. His designs are not for the shy woman but more for the UBER chic, Glam Dominatrix Diva. His clients come mainly from Asia and the Middle East and every now and then, you will see a FAB Stephane Rolland Haute Couture creation on the Red Carpet (if we're lucky--he still has to compete with the POWERHOUSE PR Offices of the "biggies": Chanel, Valentino, Dior, etc.). For Fall/Winter, he was inspired by two things: China (smart, since that's where the latest crop of multi-millionaire clients are coming from), which showed up in Pagoda sleeves, Mandarin-like collars, Chinese calligraphy details. Another inspiration was:

Iconic model Carmen Dell'Orefice (seen above at the Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Show with NY socialite/MTV's The City "Elle Magazine intern" Olivia Palermo next to her). The clothes were fabulous by the way. Colors ranged from "Winter White" to deep blacks, violets, muted raspberry and lots of oversized metallic/jeweled embellishments as in belts, neck and bust accents as well as the above mentioned drapes, folds and twisted ribbons that are the "Rolland" hallmarks.

Daywear According to Rolland: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

To start with, there was some "day wear"--OK, forget it, it was more like "Cocktail Hour". But mainly, as always with Rolland, it was about THOSE gowns! Showstoppers. Take a look:

Who Invited Her: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

Shanghai Ball: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

Plunging: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

New Slit: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

Shoulder Padded Grecian Goddess: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

China Calligraphy Couture: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

Be sure not to miss the Final Wedding Gown and how HEAVY it was--so heavy that the model is literally FORCING it to move with all the strength of her 5'11" size 2 frame!!! Bless her heart! (and bless those in the audience trying to cool off from the hot & humid temperatures that were occurring during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week a couple of weeks back)--click on the video below...

Click Below for Full Runway Video of Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011/12 Haute Couture:

Actress Miriam Yeung in Stephane Rolland Spring 2011 Haute Couture: Diva of The Day--and Week!

Shut The Front Couture Door!!

Asiana DIVA: Actress Miriam Yeung in Stephane Rolland Spring 2011 Haute Couture

Last Sunday, at the 30th Annual Hong Kong Film Awards, actress---and Fashionista---Miriam Yeung, put all the other actresses to shame, as she sauntered onto the red carpet wearing a black column gown with exaggerated neck-and-torso "collar" from Stephane Rolland's Spring 2011 Haute Couture Collection. She looked STUNNING! Directional, elegant, dramatic and soooo Haute Couture!!!

Here she is with with husband, fellow actor (and HOTTIE!!!) Ting Chi Ko at 30th Hong Kong Film Awards last Sunday in Hong Kong China. Perfect Couple Alert! For that...and wearing that FAB Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Gown, she gets my "Nick Diva of the Day--and Week" Award!

Paris Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Week: Stéphane Rolland

Power Draping

Prized Invitation: My Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 Invitation

Two weeks ago, I received a very nice Invitation in the mail (tied in a grosgrain copper-colored bow) from Paris (I know!) from the House of Stephane Rolland, Haute Couture Fashion Designer, inviting me to attend his Spring/Summer 2011 Haute Couture fashion show. Well, unfortunately, I couldn't attend (I'm hoping I will receive another invitation for the Fall/Winter 2011 Show!) but instead, I got to enjoy the next best thing: Photos of the show which occurred yesterday.

Now THAT'S A Sleeve: Wheat-colored asymmetrical dress with exaggerated sleeve, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Stephane Rolland has never met a DRAPE he did not like! Strong, Powerful, Take-No-Prisoners Couture. The line-up was for the "New" 21st Century Roman/Grecian Goddess. Gowns, Gowns and more Gowns...Showstopping dresses that can cost as much as a Mercedes Benz and meant for the A-list actresses and singers who can borrow them--as well as the Middle Eastern Divas who can afford them. I absolutely LOVED the collection. It got my heart doing an excited pitter-patter! Now, THIS...is what Couture is all about. Now, I am REALLY depressed I couldn't attend (insert sad face).

High-Low White: Coat-Gown with high front and long back train in silk gazar with exaggerated shoulders and plunging neckline, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Trends: High-low gowns; SLEEVES; structural and ARCHITECTURAL draping and folds; plunging necklines; Plisses/Fortuny pleating; Colors: ivory, pumpkin orange, bronzed copper, black, gold; metallic accents.

High-Low Black: Mock-turtleneck dress with high front and flowy train back, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Themes: Sparta Queen meets Greco-Roman Warrior Princess; Making an Entrance DIVA; Venus Comes out of the Sea...in one of these Gowns!

Clients Include:

Queen Rania of Jordan

Skeikha Mozah Bint Nasser of Qatar and...

Rihanna

Here are more Highlights from Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011:

Oscar Gown: Strapless bronzed copper side-draped gown, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Orangina Diva: Plunging neckline silk gown with fitted sleeves, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Imagine Steaming This: Strapless bronzed copper colored silk gown, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

2010 Grammy Awards Red Carpet Fashion: Who Wore What? Beyonce

Beyonce in Stephane Rolland Fall 2009 Haute Couture

Just like with Rihanna, I experienced one of my "I've seen that Gown somewhere before..." feelings when I saw Beyonce walk the red carpet this evening at the 2010 Grammy Awards. And yes, of course I have, it was from one of my favorite Haute Couture Collections last year, Stephane Rolland. The detail work on this gown is incredible. Love the sleeves and the plunging neckline and the soft Tulip silhouette.

Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2010--Continued: Stephane Rolland and George Hobeika Haute Couture

Monsieur Nick Verreos...Several weeks back, I received something in the mail from Paris France. I went into "Uncle Nick" convulsions! It was an invitation for the Stephane Rolland 2010 Spring/Summer Haute Couture Fashion Show. After much thought (after I calmed down!), I realized because of my work and crazy schedule (I was actually filming in Los Angeles that day), I could not attend. But I will be in Paris for the Fall/Winter 2010 Haute Couture Fashion Week in July, so I will be hoping for another invitation! So for now I will have to settle for the next best thing: Seeing the show on video and photos.
If you may not know, Stephane Rolland is one of the up-and-coming Couturiers that all of the fashion world is buzzing about. Rihanna--as well as Queen Rania--have worn his designs. He is know for glorious modern cocktail and evening wear. Sexy not vulgar.
For Spring/Summer 2010 Haute Couture, he sent down beautiful designs showing a love for off-kilter draping, and curve-a-licious lines (sorry, I know that was very un-fashionista terminology). The silhouettes were DIVINE! And a bonus: One of my favorite models was in the show: The one and only Sessilee Lopez.

Click Below for a Preview of the Stephane Rolland Spring/Summer 2010 Haute Couture Show:

Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika also showed this past week during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week . There was lots of beading, red, canary yellows and a running theme of transparency. The red gown above was gorgeous but I'm not so sure how many of those ultra-rich Persian Gulf clients in Bahrain and Kuwait would order that without a lining--but the color is perfect for the wives or girlfriends of all those Couture-buying Chinese billionaires that the recent WWD article was talking about. At the show, every model wore a shoulder-length brunette bob with bangs. I must admit that I am not a fan of identical wigs on models. But, I did love the pleated mini Leg O' Mutton sleeves on this beaded cocktail number.One of my favorite looks in the Hobeika 2010 Haute Couture show was this final wedding gown--now I can certainly see a fabulously wealthy Bahraini bride wear that!
George Hobeika Haute Couture--Preview and Reportage